Worried About Your Child's Poor Hearing, It Is Going To Be OK

 

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If your child has been diagnosed with some type of hearing loss or complaint then it can feel overwhelming but thankfully there are many ways to deal with this type of issue. 

If you have a child with a hearing problem, it will certainly be difficult not only to attend classes, but also to communicate with those around him/her, especially in the school environment, where he is forced to interact with many people on a daily basis, often at the same time. In these cases, the role of teachers is a catalyst for the good adaptation of the child to the school environment. But most educators do not know exactly the difficulties and needs of a hearing-impaired child. It may also affect their speech development which can lead to them struggling in the first few years of education. It may be a simple solution to look at hearing aids which your ENT should discuss with you. Hearing aids are worn by people of all ages and are relatively easy to work with. 

Causes of hearing loss in children

There are many possible causes for hearing loss in a child, whether it is acquired at birth (congenital hearing loss) or later in life (acquired hearing loss). It is important for parents, babysitters, doctors and teachers to know the signs in order to diagnose hearing loss in children, because incurable hearing loss can cause significant developmental problems and negatively affect their psychology. Some babies are born with hearing loss, which is known as congenital hearing loss and it is not always possible to find the true cause. In about half of the cases of congenital hearing loss the cause is genetic. The problem is inherited from the parent and its severity ranges from mild to severe.

Genetic factors that can cause congenital hearing loss include:

• Autosomal recessive hearing loss : is the most common form of congenital hearing loss, responsible for approximately 70% of patients. In this case, neither parent shows hearing loss, but both have the mutated gene inherited from the child.

• Autosomal recessive hearing loss: This type of hearing loss accounts for 15% of congenital cases, according to the American Association of Speech, Language and Hearing (ASHA). Unlike the rest, only one of the two parents transmits the mutated hearing aid gene to the child, without necessarily ever showing symptoms himself.

Non-genetic factors that can cause congenital hearing loss include:

• Complications in childbirth: the presence of harmful microorganisms or the appearance of infections, lack of oxygen or the need for blood transfusions.

• Premature birth: Babies born with less than 2 kg body weight or those who require respiratory assistance due to their premature birth have a high risk of hearing loss.

• Disorder of the brain or nervous system.

• Use of medicines by the mother during pregnancy, such as antibiotics or some painkillers that cause hearing loss.

• Maternal diabetes

• Drug, alcohol or cigarette use by the mother during pregnancy.

Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hearing loss is important for the child's development, so the test should be done before leaving the maternity ward or at least in the first year or so of their lives. 

Indications for childhood hearing loss

You should be sure that you are aware of your child’s behaviour to ensure that you are on top of things. Before they go back to school, be sure to assess their traits and get information from their teachers. 

• They do not respond when shouted at or called

• They speak very loudly

• They listen to the TV at high volume

• They pronounce words incorrectly

• They are not doing well at school

• They are often irritable and hyperactive

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A key factor in preventing the serious effects of hearing loss on speech development is prevention and early diagnosis, which can be made even for cases of hereditary hearing loss thanks to the evolution of molecular biology and the analysis of our genetic code. There is no need to panic if your child displays problems but it is important that they do have regular hearing checks because it will assist them greatly. 

There are plenty of ways to help your child if they are struggling as well as therapies, medications and hearing aids. For maximum acoustic effect, it is good for the hearing 

aids to be accompanied by a series of sessions at a speech therapist as they can really help bring your child confidence. There is no reason to worry but it is good to be active and aware of the problems.