Warning Signs of Childhood Hearing Loss
There are a number of different causes of hearing problems in children. In some cases, the difficulty is just temporary. For instance, there may be blockage of the ear canal by a wax buildup or because of a tiny object such as a component of a toy or a pea. Chronic, childhood ear infections can also have an impact on a child’s hearing.
The Key Indications to Watch for In Determining Your Child’s Auditory Impairment
There can be any number of factors contributing to hearing problems in children. Often, the child eventually outgrows the symptoms. Part of a small toy or other foreign object may have gotten placed in the ear which blocks the ear canal, or there may be an accumulation of excess ear wax. Hearing loss also can stem from certain types of ear infections.
Approximately one in 1,000 children is born with a grave hearing difficulty, and an additional one in 1,000 kids develops a problem prior to the age of 6. Certain risk factors increase a child’s chance for experiencing hearing loss. The reasons for childhood hearing disorders include exposure to infection or to particular pharmaceuticals pre- or postpartum, as well as a genetic history of hearing impairments. Hearing loss may develop after a child is born due to a variety of causes.
Babies who weigh less than three pounds are especially at risk. And difficulties can develop in babies who have been on a ventilator for 10 days or more. Hearing loss also can stem from any of the several childhood illness and diseases, including mumps and measles, as well as injuries and exposure to various toxins.
Beware of stubborn, repetitive middle ear infections, as these types of infections very often can result in hearing problems. Kids who experience severe hearing loss will not be able to decipher the spoken word or other noises. However, there are fewer than 6 percent of all the children with hearing problems that experience a profound loss of hearing. Your child may have hearing loss if he or she doesn’t hear you unless you are speaking loudly.
Your child may tell you he or she cannot hear the radio or the television when everyone else in the family has no trouble. Another frequent problem is not being able to hear a teacher during lessons. It can be more difficult to diagnose hearing issues in infants and young children. It’s important for parents to monitor the way their children react to all types of sounds. A 3-month-old infant may react noticeably to a loud noise, by crying, blinking, or waving their arms.
At 4 months, an infant might turn their heads to search for the source of the sound. A child who doesn’t react in these ways may need a professional hearing evaluation. Health care professionals recommend that children between the ages of 3 and 4 should have regular hearing tests every time they visit the doctor. This type of testing is most often done with audiometry, an easy test with the child using special earphones to listen to sound tones. Teachers are often the first ones to notice that a child may have difficulty in hearing.
Coaches who teach sports after-school may also be aware of a child who has problems hearing signals, instructions, or an official’s call. There are things a parent can do that will lesson a child’s chances of developing hearing loss. Make sure your kid is up to date with all of his/her immunizations. You also should make sure that your child always uses a seat belt and wears a bicycle helmet. This will lessen the likelihood that your child is going to hurt her or his eardrum.
And lastly, make sure not to let children clean their own ears with anything–not even Q-Tips. And don’t forget that ear infection symptoms, including fever and discharge, as well as linguistic delays, pain, or loss or impairment of hearing should warrant an immediate consultation with your physician.
Babies who are born weighing under three pounds are often at risk. Babies who are required to be ventilated for over 10 days will also see their risk factors rise. As kids grow, a variety of ailments like mumps and measles, in addition to some toxins and injuries, can bring about loss of hearing.
Other common causes are frequent, recurrent or strong middle ear infections or middle ear infections that are ongoing. Profound hearing loss means children will not be able to hear speech or any other kinds of sounds. Profound hearing loss occurs in less than 6 percent of childhood hearing loss. Your child may have hearing loss if he or she doesn’t hear you unless you are speaking loudly.
Your child may tell you he or she cannot hear the radio or the television when everyone else in the family has no trouble. Some children tell their parents that they can’t hear their teachers talking in class. Assessing auditory ability in an infant or developing child is more difficult. The parent can often tell by observing the child’s reaction to noises. If there is a loud noise, a three month old baby might cry, blink or throw her hands out to the sides.
Typically, four month olds will turn to see the point of origin for a loud noise. Babies who do not show these developmental abilities should be checked out by a doctor. Regardless, such an assessment is recommended by hearing specialists between the ages of three and four, along with consistent testing during trips to the doctor’s office. Hearing tests are done through the playing of a series of tones to which children listen through earphones designed for this purpose. Many children are often first diagnosed with auditory problems by their teachers, if they are old enough to be in school.
After school sports coaches additionally might take note if a child is having trouble hearing calls, signals or instructions from referees. Parents can reduce a child’s chance for developing hearing loss.