Kid's Corner
Hearing loss at any age is an emotional issue. It robs you of a sense that adds so much to the richness of life. In children, the loss is especially heartbreaking. It impacts not only the sound experience of a life yet to be lived to the fullest, but also creates a barrier to a child's number one job, learning. Fortunately, many causes of hearing loss are treatable, and it is often possible to return the sounds of childhood to a young life. We invite you to learn more....
Categories of Hearing Loss
As with adults, hearing loss in children is measured in degrees. The loss can range from mild, one that causes difficulty hearing hushed tones such as a whisper, to moderately severe, where the child can still hear loud speech, to a total loss resulting in deafness.
Hearing loss in children typically falls into two main categories. A conductive loss is the most common and is associated with conditions in the external or middle ear that block the transmission of sound. These conditions can include ear infection, fluid in the ear, impacted ear wax, a perforated ear drum, a foreign object in the canal or birth defects that alter the canal. Many of these conditions are treatable through minor procedures or surgery.
Sensorineural loss is the second type. "Nerve deafness" is an inner ear or central auditory pathway to the brain issue. Most often, this type of loss is caused by congenital infections, the use of ototoxic drugs (antibiotics), premature birth with a very low birth weight and some of the resulting treatments or a number of other medical conditions. Although there is no cure for this type of loss in most cases, children can often be helped with hearing aids.
Symptoms
Signs to look for possible hearing issues in children of different ages are:
Newborn / infant:
Not startling at loud noises
Not showing normal speech development
Toddler and older:
Sitting close to the television with the sound turned up to a loud volume
Having difficulty in school
Not responding to someone that is talking without being face to face
Stating the he is having difficulty hearing
Central Auditory Processing Testing
This is specialized hearing testing for individuals who have difficulty processing or interpreting auditory information when presented in a less than optimal listening environment. Usually individuals with a central auditory disorder have normal hearing when taking a traditional hearing tests but are unable to interpret or process speech when in an environment which is less than quiet.
The vast majority of children and adults with Central Auditory Processing Disorder that have been evaluated at the Hearing Assessment Center can hear even the faintest of sounds, but are unable to process verbal stimuli in an effective manner in their everyday listening situations. Environments such as a classroom setting, the work place, community gatherings, and church are often seen as threatening because of this auditory difficulty.
Individuals who have a CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) have particular difficulty concentrating when in an environment which is not perfectly quiet. Understanding verbal messages are difficult for these individuals, particularly when someone else is talking or ambient noise is present in the background. These individuals often have to work harder than others just trying to receive auditory information in a meaningful manner. It is a very frustrating situation for individuals when they can hear "perfectly" but can not process auditory speech information in a meaningful way.
If you believe your child does not hear well you should consult with your physician or an AudigyCertified™ Doctor of Audiology at the earliest possible date. Timely testing, diagnosis and treatment provide the best course of action to ensuring the highest quality lifetime Sound Experience for your child.
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