Assessing hearing in children is vital as it effects speech and language development. Hearing impairment in children can vary in cause and type. Congenital deafness from birth is rare. Infants are tested in hospitals before being released in most states. Loss due to ear infections or other blockages is temporary and should be treated by a doctor. Permanent hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Early detection and intervention are vital to providing support. Parents or other caretakers are often the first to notice a problem.
Indications of hearing loss at home
Indications of hearing loss in a newborn include a lack of response to loud or sudden noises. Missing milestones such as babbling by six months or imitating sounds by 10 months indicate a problem. Frustration with inability to hear clearly may cause a child to misbehave. Children who sit close to the TV or radio may be having trouble hearing clearly. Frequent blockages of the ear tube due to asthma, allergies, cleft palate or excessive earwax can cause problems in language development. Call a pediatrician or hearing specialist for an assessment.
Professional tests for hearing loss
Newborn hearing tests include evoked otoacoustic emissions test and an automated auditory brainstem response test. An OAE checks for a healthy inner ear and the ABR checks brain responses to sounds. If a problem is identified, specific treatments will be prescribed. Older children are able to use more traditional tests. To determine the extent of the hearing loss, behavioral tests will determine the quietest sound a child can hear. Audiometry tests check hearing through the use of tones and headphones. A middle ear problem will be found with an accoustical impedemence test. Once the specific type and degree of loss of hearing is found appropriate treatment can be proscribed.
Preventing hearing loss
Babies and young children should not be exposed to repeated loud environments. These might include a sporting event, concert or other gathering where the noise level is extremely loud. Young children should not use headsets. Keep children's ears clean and have hearing checked regularly.
Treatments for hearing loss
Temporary hearing loss due to frequent ear infections can be treated with tubes inserted in the eardrum. The tube helps fluid drain and prevents blockages to the inner ear. Earwax can be removed by a doctor or at home as needed. Check with a physician for specific instructions.
Mild and moderate hearing loss is treated with hearing aids. There are a variety of instruments available that are programmable to the specific hearing loss. Profoundly hearing impaired or deaf children may be eligible for cochlear implants.
Treating a hearing loss in a young child is vital to ensure they learn to speak without any impediments or slurring of sounds.
Sources
Health of Children, Hearing Impairment (Accessed October 2010)
Kids Health, Hearing Evaluation in Children, (Accessed October 2010)
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