When a child, especially a newborn, is diagnosed with hearing loss, parents naturally have many questions and worries. Feelings of helplessness and anxiety are common; however, there are numerous treatment and adaptation alternatives available, both at home and at school, to alleviate these feelings.
The most crucial information to have is that a child’s capacity to hear helps in the development of her speech and language skills. If your kid suffers hearing loss, it is crucial that she receives proper treatment in order to lessen the impact on her education.
Treatment of hearing loss in infants before they reach six months of age has been shown to improve their speech and language development more than treatment at a later age. In addition, studies have shown that children with hearing loss who use hearing aids had better academic outcomes overall.
What Is Hearing Loss?
Children with hearing loss or impairment have difficulty hearing and/or interpreting speech. A malfunction with any of the following ear components can cause this:
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- ears’ auditory nerves, which carry information about sounds to the brain
- area of the brain responsible for decoding these impulses
Causes
Among the leading causes of congenital hearing loss in infants are
1. Genetic defects
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an infection that occurs while a baby is still developing inside the mother’s womb. Congenital CMV infection is the most prevalent congenital viral infection. Hearing loss is only one of several issues that might affect an infected child before birth. Infants and young children who were infected while still in the womb or shortly after birth are also at risk for developing permanent hearing loss.
Furthermore, many cases have a genetic basis. Birth-onset hearing loss can result from some inherited conditions. Over time, hearing loss can also occur as a result of other hereditary disorders.
2. Otitis media
In young children and adolescents, the most prevalent causes of hearing loss are
Otitis media with effusion, or ear infection,
3. Congealed earwax
It is also one of the causes of hearing issues in kids.
4. Other causes
Other causes of hearing loss in older children include head trauma; exposure to excessively loud noises; use of drugs that can damage the ears (such as aminoglycoside antibiotics or thiazide diuretics); certain viral infections (such as mumps); tumors or injuries affecting the auditory nerve; injury by pencils or other foreign objects that become stuck deep in the ear; and, rarely, a malfunction of the body’s immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues (autoimmune disorder).
Symptoms and Signals
Each youngster with hearing loss will have a unique combination of symptoms. Ask your child’s doctor to perform a hearing test as soon as possible if you have any concerns that he or she may be suffering from hearing loss. Stop wasting time!
The following symptoms should be watched for even if the child has passed a previous hearing test.
Signs in Babies
- Does not react when exposed to loudness.
- After 6 months of age, he no longer looks for the source of a sound.
- does not yet use simple phrases like “dada” or “mama”
- Sees you and looks in your direction, but ignores your name call completely. This could be the result of partial or complete hearing loss but is often misinterpreted as apathy or willful ignorance.
- Seems able to pick up on some sounds but missing others.
Signs in Children
- Language lags behind.
- Ambiguous speech.
- Disregards established protocol and cause confusion. This could be due to a hearing impairment but is often misinterpreted as an unwillingness to pay attention.
- Uses “Huh?” a lot
- Turns the TV volume up too high.
Diagnosis of hearing problems in children
Have your child’s hearing checked if you have any concerns. Testing for hearing loss in children can vary in sophistication with their age but may include any of the following.
Physiological measures of the brain’s electrical activity in reaction to sound (auditory brainstem response testing) are one example of an objective test.
testing using an audiometer – a machine that makes sounds like beeps and whistles – might be as easy as shaking a rattle nearby and watching the child’s reaction (behavioral observation audiometry). The degree of hearing loss can be determined by testing the child’s ability to hear various noises.
Treatment
- Hearing aids
- Medication
- Medication
- Sound amplification using implanted cochlear receivers
Intervention during the first six months can prevent developmental and social issues, thus testing for hearing loss and deafness should begin soon after birth so that therapy can begin promptly.
Prevention
The following are suggestions for guardians who wish to shield their offspring from a future of deafness:
- Get pregnant in good health.
- Take the time to get your kid immunized against common childhood diseases.
- Don’t let your kid play with loud toys or anywhere else with excessive noise.
Conclusion
A child’s capacity to communicate and interact with others may be hampered by hearing loss. Children with hearing loss have a better chance of reaching their full potential if they begin receiving services as soon as possible. Parents who have concerns that their kid may have hearing loss should consult with a top ENT specialist right away.
FAQs
1. When it comes to youngsters, what is the leading cause of hearing loss?
Loss of hearing is a lifelong condition that can affect a person at any age. Fetal infection, postpartum issues, and birth trauma account for one-quarter of all cases of infant hearing loss. The fetus may have been exposed to a disease before birth.
2. Can a child’s hearing break down quickly?
Diseases like meningitis, encephalitis, measles, chickenpox and the flu can cause permanent hearing loss in children. Deafness can also be brought on by pharmaceutical use, exposure to extremely loud noises, or trauma to the head.
3. What are the obvious signs when a kid has hearing loss?
When your kid listens, he tilts his head to one side or claims he can only hear properly with his “good ear.” Your kid isn’t listening or participating in class, and it shows in his grades. Your little one claims he didn’t catch what you were saying.
