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Hearing loss is not a condition that’s limited to older adults. Hearing loss in children can either be congenital, meaning it appears at birth, or it can develop in childhood.
Congenital hearing loss can be hereditary, caused by an infection during pregnancy, or a result of a premature birth. Acquired hearing loss in childhood can be the result of recurring ear infections, infectious diseases like meningitis, or trauma.
When hearing loss happens with your children, it’s tough to know how you should respond as a parent. You will likely have hundreds of questions to ask to make sure that you do what’s best for your child.
Testing Your Child’s Hearing
As with adults, hearing loss in children may be permanent if it involves hearing loss in the cochlea (inner ear) or a damaged auditory nerve, or it can be treatable with medicine or surgery.
One of the first steps you should take if you suspect hearing loss in your child is to get their hearing tested. Audiology clinics like Toronto Hearing Consultants use a number of tests to check for different types of hearing loss. These tests include:
- Otoscopy: using a device to examine the outer ear.
- Tympanometry: using a low pitched sound to check the response from the middle ear.
- Air conduction thresholds: used to determine the level of hearing loss a patient is experiencing.
- Bone conduction thresholds: used to test hearing loss in the inner ear.
- Speech testing: used to determine a patient’s ability to hear speech in a noisy environment.
When it comes to kids, start by going to your family doctor. If your child shows signs of hearing loss, your doctor may refer you to an audiologist. The hearing tests that are used may differ based on your child’s age.
Getting a Hearing Aid
A hearing aid is one of the most common ways to treat hearing loss. Hearing aids amplify and change sound, converting it into sound waves and electrical signals that enable the wearer to hear better.
Hearing aids are not one-size-fits-all solutions. A hearing aid is something that a user will wear every day, and it has to be calibrated to match their hearing needs. There are several steps to finding the right hearing aid. A hearing aid fitting identifies physical and electroacoustic requirements for a hearing aid, as well as the patient’s listening challenges.
Hearing aids also need to be programmed. An audiologist will input information from the hearing test to best assist the patient’s hearing. It will also be adjusted according to their preferences and needs.
Educational Needs
A child with hearing loss may also have unique educational needs, as hearing loss can impact speech, language, and social skill development.
Early intervention education is designed to help children with hearing loss develop those skills. Early intervention can make a significant difference in improving children’s development.
Beyond the early years, many children with hearing loss adapt to become visual learners. Educational environments that emphasize visual learning can help children with hearing loss from elementary to post-secondary.
Hearing loss in children is treatable. If you’re concerned that your child might have hearing loss, get them tested with an audiologist.
