Hearing Loss in Children - What you should be aware of
When talkin`g about hearing loss, most people associate the condition with older people. Besides age-related hearing loss, children, and even newborns can also experience hearing loss from a variety of reasons. Unintentional negligence by parents or guardians could lead to hearing loss in children to go unnoticed until it's too late. In this article, we intend to discuss the different aspects related to hearing loss in children that you should be aware of, and take the necessary precautions to protect your child. Types of hearing loss Before we delve into hearing loss in children, we should be aware of the different types of hearing loss that exist.
Alternatively, auditory nerves which send electrical signals from the inner ear to the brain may be damaged, manifesting as sensorineural hearing loss.
What are the Causes? There are many reasons why newborns or children may experience hearing impairment. Below are some of the more common causes of hearing loss:
Though this list is by no means exhaustive, it's more important to be aware that children can also be susceptible to hearing problems. What if hearing loss goes untreated? The effects of hearing loss issues tend to go underappreciated. In the elderly, things like dementia and social isolation are common concerns. In newborns or children however, the consequences could affect them to an extent where it's difficult to correct or even plague them for their whole lives. In children, being able to hear sounds is very important for their development of language, intellectual, and social-emotional skills. In fact, the younger the child is, the greater the effect of hearing loss will be if left untreated. For a newborn, it is imperative that hearing loss is detected and treated as early as possible before they pass their development milestones. If the condition is not treated before these milestones, it will affect the development of their brain and consequently language and social skills, and in some cases be permanent and cannot be corrected even as the children age. Though it is more dangerous for hearing loss to go untreated in younger children, it does not mean that it should be tolerable in older children. If hearing problems are suspected, either through feedback from teachers in school or through your own observations, seek professional help immediately. How is hearing loss detected?
Through the test, the audiologist will be able to identify the lowest volume in which the child can hear at different frequencies and thus conclude if he or she has hearing loss or not. However because of the nature of the test, it cannot be used on newborns because they are unable to elicit a response when sound is played to them. In this case, ABR or ASSR are utilized.
These screening tests are completely painless and typically done a few days after the baby is born to check for any hearing loss early. Preventive options Even though hearing problems due to genetic reasons cannot be controlled for, there are many ways in which we can help protect our children from the adverse effects of hearing loss.
If your child shows signs like difficulty in hearing over background noise, slurring and mumbling their words, or watching television at very high volumes, it is recommended that your child goes for a proper hearing test and seek treatment. Treatment options If your child has been diagnosed with hearing loss, hearing aids will have to be fitted in order to allow your child to hear normally, which is essential for the development of their language and social skills. For children with severe hearing impairment to the extent where normal hearing aids are insufficient, cochlear implants might be suggested by your audiologist to help your child hear sufficiently. Conclusion Development of many important basic skills begin as early as the first month of a child's birth. In order to ensure they develop to their fullest potential, hearing loss must be checked for and treated as soon as possible. Get A Hearing Test In Singapore At The Hearing Centre If you suspect your child has hearing loss issues, our certified audiologists at The Hearing Centre are always ready to lend a helping hand. The Hearing Centre is a hearing care specialist in Singapore with almost 2 decades of presence in the industry. With a team of highly experienced and skilled audiologists, we will walk you through the entire process of getting a hearing aid with the utmost warmth and care, from the diagnosis to fitting and after-sales service including repairs and adjustments. Apart from high-quality yet fairly priced hearing aids from the most advanced brands in the market, we are proud of our personalized services using state-of-the-art technology to suit every individual’s needs.
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Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implants - Are they the same?
You may be familiar with hearing aids - it's a small device you wear on your ear to help you hear better. But you might have heard of cochlear implants as well when looking at topics related to hearing loss and hearing aids. What exactly are cochlear implants and how are they related to hearing aids? Though this article will help you to better understand the differences between hearing aids and cochlear implants, it is not written with the intention of providing medical advice. If you are considering getting hearing aids or cochlear implants for hearing loss issues, seek a trained audiologist. What are Hearing Aids? Hearing aids are small powerful devices that you wear on your outer ear or inside your ear to boost your hearing. They are suitable for users with mild to severe hearing loss, and can even manage tinnitus, a common medical condition experienced by patients with moderate to profound hearing loss. There are 3 types of hearing loss, which are sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss. Hearing aids are able to help patients with any of the 3 types of hearing loss to hear properly again. There are also many different styles of hearing aids, such as Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids, In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids, and Completely-In-Canal (CIC) hearing aids etc. Each cater to the different needs that a person has for their hearing loss. Though many different types of hearing aids exist, all hearing aids use the same 3 basic components to help the user hear. All hearing aids have a microphone, amplifier (or speech processor), and a speaker. The microphone picks up sounds from the user's surroundings and sends it to the amplifier, where it is processed and adjusted to the right volume for user. Signals are then sent from the amplifier to the speaker and is heard by the user. Some hearing aids are also capable of adjusting to their environment, namely minimizing background noise and enhancing voices so that the user can hear others clearly even in noisy situations. What are Cochlear Implants? Cochlear implants are electronic devices meant for users with profound hearing loss, having both an external component and an internal component. As the name suggests, a cochlear implant surgery is required behind the ear in order to install the internal part of the implant, which is a very simple and safe procedure. The internal component consists of a thin wire with electrodes, and is inserted into the cochlear - a spiral-shaped organ inside your ear that helps you hear. The external component on the other hand is where the microphone and amplifier is found, and is placed behind the user's ear - just like a normal hearing aid would. Similarities and Differences Both hearing aids and cochlear implants share one major similarity. They help users with hearing loss, who often struggle with hearing what people are saying especially in noisy environments or even in quiet settings, hear much better and improve their quality of life. Cochlear implants can only help patients with sensorineural hearing loss Cochlear implants however, are also very different from hearing aids in multiple aspects. First of all, cochlear implants can only help patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is where the inner ear - not the outer ear, is not functioning properly. Specifically, the cochlear is not working properly. The cochlear consists of many cells called hair cells, which are responsible for detecting sound waves, and sending electrical signals to the brain. When these hair cells are damaged - either due to old age or prolonged exposure to loud noises, they become less effective at sending electrical signals to the brain. As a result, the person's hearing ability worsens and would be diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. Cochlear implants can only be effective for a patient with sensorineural or mixed hearing loss, whereas hearing aids can cater to patients with sensorineural or conductive hearing loss (i.e. sound has difficulty reaching the inside of the ear through the ear canal), or both. Cochlear implants are much more powerful Secondly, though hearing aids are capable of accommodating a wide degree of hearing loss, they are not as powerful as cochlear implants when it comes to alleviating hearing loss. The main reason being that hearing aids relieve hearing loss by passing sound through the ear canal, which is then received by the inner ear, then sent to the brain. Cochlear implants on the other hand bypasses most of the steps to hearing sounds, by sending sounds directly to the cochlear, and is thus more effective. Additionally, when patients start to experience difficulties in understanding speech even with a hearing aid, cochlear implant is an option. Which one to choose? For most people, hearing aids are sufficient in dealing with hearing loss. However, if you're experiencing severe to profound hearing loss, in some cases hearing aids might not be able to help you hear properly and you might require a cochlear implant. It is best to consult a trained audiologist who is capable of diagnosing your degree of hearing loss and assess whether or not a cochlear implant is suitable for you. Other important considerations There are also many other points that one should consider when deciding whether or not to go for a cochlear implant. Cost Because cochlear implants require surgery and are much more powerful than hearing aids for dealing with hearing loss, they are more expensive. Durability or Lifespan Though cochlear implants may cost more upfront, they are designed to last a lifetime. Hearing aids on the other hand last on average about 5 years or longer if they are well-taken care of. Appearance Though hearing aids are less conspicuous, the external component of the cochlear implant is still very much visible on the user's side of the head. Though there is nothing wrong with using a cochlear implant for your hearing needs, it might be a point of consideration for some people. Cochlear implants are completely silent Because cochlear implants work by sending electrical signals directly to the cochlear, no sounds are produced and is thus completely silent. In contrast, hearing aid users and people around them sometimes may hear their own voices, especially if the user is experiencing severe hearing loss and the hearing aid is adjusted to produce louder sounds. Users may also experience feedback with hearing aids but this never happens with cochlear implants. Hearing aids may produce more natural sounds For hearing aids, because sounds travel through your ear canals, sounds are much more natural when compared to that from cochlear implants, where the signals bypasses the ear canal and goes directly to the cochlear. Time needed to get used to Because sounds produced by a hearing aid is more natural, it takes a shorter period of time to get used to than cochlear implants. Conclusion Even though hearing aids and cochlear implants both serve the same purpose - to help people deal with hearing loss, cochlear implants are much more suitable for people experiencing severe hearing loss and have difficulty understanding speech. Though in some cases hearing aids might still help do the job, cochlear implants may be necessary in order to minimize or prevent adverse outcomes, like impairment of language and social skills in children, or dementia in older patients. Get A Hearing Test In Singapore At The Hearing Centre If you are unsure whether hearing aids or cochlear implants are right for you, a hearing test in Singapore can be done at ear specialists like The Hearing Centre in order to help you make the right decision. The Hearing Centre is a hearing care specialist in Singapore with almost 2 decades of presence in the industry. With a team of highly experienced and skilled audiologists, we will walk you through the entire process of getting a hearing aid with the utmost warmth and care, from the diagnosis to fitting and after-sales service including repairs and adjustments. Apart from high-quality yet fairly priced hearing aids from the most advanced brands in the market, we are proud of our personalized services using state-of-the-art technology to suit every individual’s needs. Get the best hearing test and hearing aids from The Hearing Centre.
Hearing is without a doubt an important and essential part of our lives. It allows us to comfortably interact with our loved ones, and appreciate the sounds around us, be it music or the environment. What's unfortunate is that hearing impairment might suddenly decrease their ability to enjoy and appreciate the sounds around them. In this blog article, we will attempt to give a wide overview of hearing loss and help you better understand the intricacies of hearing and hearing loss. What causes hearing loss?Most hearing loss happen gradually, especially when one ages and deficiency in hearing ability accumulates over many years. This process could be accelerated from prolonged exposure to loud noises, say for a person who works at the construction sector for a living, or it could be someone who listens to music on their headphones for extended periods of time everyday. Hearing loss from old age could also be due to something as simple as the buildup of earwax in their ears, or the deterioration of organs involved in hearing. Certain diseases or infections have also been known to lead to hearing deficiencies. For example, an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own cells, causing them to die is one of the possibilities. In the case of hearing loss, the cells involved in facilitating the person's hearing ability gets killed off, resulting in hearing loss. This process could be triggered or hastened by certain treatments or drugs, in particular those for treating cancer. Chemotherapy helps to kill off cancer cells but if the site of treatment is close to the ear, cells involved in hearing receive collateral damage and their functionality is impaired. Some hearing loss may occur spontaneously, such as due to a physical head injury, damaging the inner ear or nerves involved in hearing. Some hearing loss occur even at birth, and according to a study in 2017, an estimated 1.33 babies in 1000 are affected in developed countries, and an estimated 19 babies in 1000 are affected in developing countries that do not have properly established neonatal hearing screening programs. The best way to protect our ears and prevent hearing loss is to minimize or avoid long-term exposure to loud sounds. If one's work demands such exposure, one must take care to wear hearing protection properly, else it could lead to eventual deafness. Different types of hearing lossBefore we discuss the different types of hearing loss, we should first briefly discuss how sound is picked up by our ears. Sound enters the ear first through the outer ear, then through the ear canal. It then reaches the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, and gets processed by hair cells in the middle and inner ear through complex functions, and a signal is sent via auditory nerves to the brain to be recognized and we interpret this as hearing sounds. There are 3 established types of hearing loss - Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed. Conductive hearing loss is when sound has difficulty passing through the ear canal or reaching the middle ear. This could be due to something as simple as a buildup of earwax in the ear canal, or something more serious like an ear infection which causes a fluid buildup, blocking out incoming sound waves. This results in an overall lower amount of sound waves being picked up by the ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is when the auditory nerves inside your ear are damaged, and their ability to transmit sound signals to your brain is hindered. As described in an earlier section, this could be due to deterioration from old age or from certain treatments and drugs. Mixed hearing loss is simply a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The patient may have varying severities of the 2 types of hearing losses. There are also acute hearing loss and chronic hearing loss, with the former happening suddenly such as due to trauma, and the latter referring to hearing loss that accumulates over a long period of time. Consequences of hearing loss There are many closely associated consequences of hearing loss that scientists have studied and found over the years. Social isolation Someone who has hearing loss may experience this from time to time, depending on the severity of the hearing loss. Not being able to hear and pick up what others are saying, they have to ask others to repeat themselves several times which is not socially appealing. Or worse - people may choose to speak less to them because it becomes harder to have an engaging and meaningful conversation. The end result is the person with hearing loss has less people to speak to and is at a higher risk of social isolation. As humans, we crave social interactions, so being deprived of that need is not a good outlook. Worse memory Interestingly, hearing loss can worsen one's memory capacity. This is suggested to be the case since the individual needs to allocate more attention or focus to what the other person is saying, in order to compensate for their weaker hearing. This in turns worsens the person's capacity for cognitive functions, one of which includes their memory. The longer the person goes on with their hearing impairment and the more severe their hearing is, the greater and faster their memory worsens. Dementia Particularly for older patients, hearing loss also can to dementia. This is further accentuated by the fact that people with hearing loss face social isolation, depriving them of social interactions, which is one of the key driving factors for dementia. Speech and Language impairment Some newborns are born with hearing defects due to genetics. Most of the time, they can be detected before they get discharged from the hospital through screenings, and get treated early. However, if it is not detected early, not being able to hear sounds around them - especially voices, will hinder their ability to develop speech and language skills, and ultimately social skills. Solutions for hearing lossAs discussed earlier, hearing loss is accumulated over many years for most people. They start to have difficulty understanding what others are saying, especially in a noisy environment. They tend to ask people to speak louder and switch their televisions to a higher volume just so that they can hear them properly. What solutions are there available for people with hearing difficulties? Depending on what the root of the problem is, solutions may vary and it's best to have a trained audiologist offer their expertise. Hearing aids The most universal solution. Regardless of whether is it conductive or sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids pick up sounds from the surroundings and amplify its volume to the hearer, just like what a microphone and speaker does, but packed into a small, portable and convenient device. Earwax removal Sometimes, the root of the problem can be as simple as a buildup of earwax in the ear canal. Removing it will improve one's hearing, depending on how much earwax has accumulated and blocked out incoming sound. Surgery Surgery can be done on bones found inside the ear that help with hearing, or even to treat certain ear infections that affect hearing. Cochlear implants are a common surgical procedure to treat hearing loss as well. Again, it's best to consult a trained audiologist as they will be able to communicate and discuss the merits and problems carefully with each available solution to a patient in need of hearing assistance. ConclusionSome degree of hearing loss is inevitable for everyone at some point in life. But if it affects our daily lives and our interactions with friends and family, it is advisable to seek professional help and regain our hearing ability. Many patients tend to shy away from hearing aids or treatment because "they're old already", or "it's too expensive", but after receiving help, many patients also appreciate how their lives were more fulfilling and enriching. The Hearing Centre – Award-winning Hearing Aids provider in Singapore Concerned about your hearing or looking for hearing aids in Singapore? The Hearing Centre is an award-winning hearing aids provider in Singapore and we have a team of trained audiologists ready to serve you and your needs for hearing. We have served more than 500 patients over the course of 16 years. We strive to provide the best services, diagnosis, and maintenance of hearing aids to you and your loved ones. Get your hearing tested or hearing aids with us today! Hearing is without a doubt an important and essential part of our lives. It allows us to comfortably interact with our loved ones, and appreciate the sounds around us, be it music or the environment. What's unfortunate is that hearing impairment might suddenly decrease their ability to enjoy and appreciate the sounds around them.
In this blog article, we will attempt to give a wide overview of hearing loss and help you better understand the intricacies of hearing and hearing loss. What causes hearing loss?Most hearing loss happen gradually, especially when one ages and deficiency in hearing ability accumulates over many years. This process could be accelerated from prolonged exposure to loud noises, say for a person who works at the construction sector for a living, or it could be someone who listens to music on their headphones for extended periods of time everyday. Hearing loss from old age could also be due to something as simple as the buildup of earwax in their ears, or the deterioration of organs involved in hearing. Certain diseases or infections have also been known to lead to hearing deficiencies. For example, an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own cells, causing them to die is one of the possibilities. In the case of hearing loss, the cells involved in facilitating the person's hearing ability gets killed off, resulting in hearing loss. This process could be triggered or hastened by certain treatments or drugs, in particular those for treating cancer. Chemotherapy helps to kill off cancer cells but if the site of treatment is close to the ear, cells involved in hearing receive collateral damage and their functionality is impaired. Some hearing loss may occur spontaneously, such as due to a physical head injury, damaging the inner ear or nerves involved in hearing. Some hearing loss occur even at birth, and according to a study in 2017, an estimated 1.33 babies in 1000 are affected in developed countries, and an estimated 19 babies in 1000 are affected in developing countries that do not have properly established neonatal hearing screening programs. The best way to protect our ears and prevent hearing loss is to minimize or avoid long-term exposure to loud sounds. If one's work demands such exposure, one must take care to wear hearing protection properly, else it could lead to eventual deafness. Different types of hearing lossBefore we discuss the different types of hearing loss, we should first briefly discuss how sound is picked up by our ears. Sound enters the ear first through the outer ear, then through the ear canal. It then reaches the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, and gets processed by hair cells in the middle and inner ear through complex functions, and a signal is sent via auditory nerves to the brain to be recognized and we interpret this as hearing sounds. There are 3 established types of hearing loss - Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed. Conductive hearing loss is when sound has difficulty passing through the ear canal or reaching the middle ear. This could be due to something as simple as a buildup of earwax in the ear canal, or something more serious like an ear infection which causes a fluid buildup, blocking out incoming sound waves. This results in an overall lower amount of sound waves being picked up by the ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is when the auditory nerves inside your ear are damaged, and their ability to transmit sound signals to your brain is hindered. As described in an earlier section, this could be due to deterioration from old age or from certain treatments and drugs. Mixed hearing loss is simply a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The patient may have varying severities of the 2 types of hearing losses. There are also acute hearing loss and chronic hearing loss, with the former happening suddenly such as due to trauma, and the latter referring to hearing loss that accumulates over a long period of time. Consequences of hearing loss There are many closely associated consequences of hearing loss that scientists have studied and found over the years. Social isolation Someone who has hearing loss may experience this from time to time, depending on the severity of the hearing loss. Not being able to hear and pick up what others are saying, they have to ask others to repeat themselves several times which is not socially appealing. Or worse - people may choose to speak less to them because it becomes harder to have an engaging and meaningful conversation. The end result is the person with hearing loss has less people to speak to and is at a higher risk of social isolation. As humans, we crave social interactions, so being deprived of that need is not a good outlook. Worse memory Interestingly, hearing loss can worsen one's memory capacity. This is suggested to be the case since the individual needs to allocate more attention or focus to what the other person is saying, in order to compensate for their weaker hearing. This in turns worsens the person's capacity for cognitive functions, one of which includes their memory. The longer the person goes on with their hearing impairment and the more severe their hearing is, the greater and faster their memory worsens. Dementia Particularly for older patients, hearing loss also can to dementia. This is further accentuated by the fact that people with hearing loss face social isolation, depriving them of social interactions, which is one of the key driving factors for dementia. Speech and Language impairment Some newborns are born with hearing defects due to genetics. Most of the time, they can be detected before they get discharged from the hospital through screenings, and get treated early. However, if it is not detected early, not being able to hear sounds around them - especially voices, will hinder their ability to develop speech and language skills, and ultimately social skills. Solutions for hearing lossAs discussed earlier, hearing loss is accumulated over many years for most people. They start to have difficulty understanding what others are saying, especially in a noisy environment. They tend to ask people to speak louder and switch their televisions to a higher volume just so that they can hear them properly. What solutions are there available for people with hearing difficulties? Depending on what the root of the problem is, solutions may vary and it's best to have a trained audiologist offer their expertise. Hearing aids The most universal solution. Regardless of whether is it conductive or sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids pick up sounds from the surroundings and amplify its volume to the hearer, just like what a microphone and speaker does, but packed into a small, portable and convenient device. Earwax removal Sometimes, the root of the problem can be as simple as a buildup of earwax in the ear canal. Removing it will improve one's hearing, depending on how much earwax has accumulated and blocked out incoming sound. Surgery Surgery can be done on bones found inside the ear that help with hearing, or even to treat certain ear infections that affect hearing. Cochlear implants are a common surgical procedure to treat hearing loss as well. Again, it's best to consult a trained audiologist as they will be able to communicate and discuss the merits and problems carefully with each available solution to a patient in need of hearing assistance. ConclusionSome degree of hearing loss is inevitable for everyone at some point in life. But if it affects our daily lives and our interactions with friends and family, it is advisable to seek professional help and regain our hearing ability. Many patients tend to shy away from hearing aids or treatment because "they're old already", or "it's too expensive", but after receiving help, many patients also appreciate how their lives were more fulfilling and enriching. The Hearing Centre – Award-winning Hearing Aids provider in Singapore Concerned about your hearing or looking for hearing aids in Singapore? The Hearing Centre is an award-winning hearing aids provider in Singapore and we have a team of trained audiologists ready to serve you and your needs for hearing. We have served more than 500 patients over the course of 16 years. We strive to provide the best services, diagnosis, and maintenance of hearing aids to you and your loved ones. Get your hearing tested or hearing aids with us today! The Importance Of Using A Hearing Aid Early
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