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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