Does Your Child Have a Hearing Problem?
Unlikely right?Not really. Hearing problem is the top cause of the sensory deficit. It also ranks as the second commonest disability in India. Four in every 1000 children are suffering from severe to profound hearing loss. That’s, not a good number. That’s also only half the story.
Also, that’s only half the story.
There are unfortunately few government centers for teaching the hearing challenged and rehabilitation. The even bigger problem the awareness level for early detection and treatment is woefully lacking.
When the child hears, the sound signal is carried to the brain via nerves. The brain on receiving the sound makes it understandable and coordinates with the speech centres for the needful.If the brain receives no or low sound, speech is difficult and may be impossible. Even if the speech mechanism is working fine, they never speak.t
The brain doesn’t know what to speak! It has never heard you see! We learn languages by hearing and understanding.For a hearing challenged brain, it simphealthwealthbridge.com/cochlear-implantwhat-you-need-to-know-part1ly doesn’t know.
WHO survey about causes of hearing loss
- Ear wax: reversible hearing loss.
- Middle ear infections
- Genetic causes, of congenital hearing loss: About 50% of all cases of congenital hearing loss are due to environmental factors, congenital hyperbilirubinemia, ototoxic medication exposure, neonatal hypoxia, viral infections, and meningitis. Rest 50% are genetic causes.
Children having birth trauma, maternal TORCH infection(Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes can all cause severe congenital hearing loss)
3 Things you should know about hearing loss in children
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Early detection is very important.
If a child suffers from severe neonatal jaundice, with Neonatal intensive care unit admission, meningitis , and other traumatic birth events, are all risk factors for hearing loss.
The family history of the similar problem, in parents or in another sibling to be ruled out.Consanguinity is also an important factor to be kept in mind . Especially for hereditary and genetic causes.
How is early detection possible?
- At the hospital during NICU admission for meningitis etc.
- At the high-risk baby clinic
- Child development clinic
- At home with a high level of suspicion
It may be done with the screening bedside Otoacoustic emission testing.If this shows abnormality a BERA test (brain stem evoke audiometry ) is done. Both these tests are non-invasive with no discomfort to the child and help to identify whether sound waves are reaching the brain.
At home, parents need to be aware: How can you know?
- Does she startle on hearing a loud sound?
- Does the doorbell wake her up?
- Whether baby turns head toward your voice(at 8 to 12 weeks)
BERA test: Studies recommend at least six months as the earliest age when results will help us . By 9 months we can be sure that there’s a problem.
- Treatment options for hearing loss
The isolated hearing loss in children has excellent chances of rehabilitation.Cochlear Implant can restore the gift of sound, to both congenital hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss due to other causes.
Hearing loss due to middle ear infections will need ear surgeries for removing ear infections. Hearing rehabilitation in these cases can be through surgery or a hearing aid. A cochlear implant in these cases is also considered.Ear wax is easily cleaned using ear drops as prescribed by your ENT specialist.
A hearing aid helps in augmenting hearing in children. This is important. If the hearing is not augmented, the remaining hearing may suffer untimely damage. Disuse atrophy for nerves is a real danger.So never delay. The magic is in the timing of intervention.I wrote about who needs a cochlear implant here. You can learn about the need for careful selection to help more people, on time.
Do not delay and avoid indigenous experiments. This only serves to delay the process.
The brain has maximal plasticity for 2 years to 1000 days. To some extent, up to 7 years of age. The quicker we diagnose and rehabilitate, the better it is. Rehabilitation needs a lot of patience. It’s not magic, but prayers always help.
Some problems which make this a challenge:
Parents find out too late. The child is already around 2 to 3 years when parents start worrying about speech delay. The best way to avoid the loss of golden time is universal screening at birth. That’s the best way to catch the problem early and help them.
Cochlear implant :What you need to know Part 1
Great article that is informative but suitable for the lay person! As an ex ENT nurse specialist (I worked in Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear hospital, London) I appreciate how important this is. Thanks for sharing on #BloggersPitStop – pinned this!
this is such a detail and informative most. i am a parent and i didnt know so many thing. thanks for sharing this
This is a very informative post especially for mothers of young children. Thanks for sharing at Blogger’s Pit Stop. Deb
This is such an informative and important article. Thank you so much for sharing this I’m going to pass it on to some friends who are parents.
This is a very informative post about child health care.
A great post that parents should be made aware of and the causes of hearing loss. Agree that early detection is important. Very informative post.
I remember around 1 year age,health care providers check kids for early detection.these tips are helpful.
Thanks for sharing such informative post..you are right..it should not be ignored initially
I think hearing loss is taken very lightly while it can have drastic consequences. Thank you for such a detailed post over the same.
Really a very helpful read. Thanks for sharing????
Thanks for sharing such a genuine post, much needed to be kmlw by the people! ⚡️
This is really an important topic.. many kids suffer from hearing loss but it is left undetected! Hope people get more aware about it
that’s really an informative post.. Thanks for sharing dear..
Its very serious problem among little babies. Parents should know how to detect wheather their kids are perfect or having any hearing problem. Very informative article for many parents. Your tips for detection are very useful
Very informative post wrt our Hearing mechanism and how to tap it early for a timely treatment.
Very informative, Amrita. The saddest case I know is of the child of an ENT specialist whose hearing problem went undetected for a long while. It just shows how much attention parents need to pay to their infants.
This is Very Helpful For all we Parents. I’ll keep in mind all these things always..
Most of us wondering for the right solution and information for hearing problem and this looks perfect Guide for how to deal with hearing problem.
This is helpful information for parents of babies. There is no time that is too early to check a baby’s hearing.
I know I suffered through a lot of ear infections in child. But thankfully it never led to permanent hearing loss. This is pretty great that you are encouraging awareness for people who have children who do suffer through it.
I was not aware about Universal screening… this is something most parents would not even realize at an early stage… thanks for bringing this up
This is a very important post and worth a share. It is very important to create awareness and you are doing an amazing job.
This was something I was worryinf about when my daughter was younger because sometimes she didnt seems to hear me/ignored me. But I quickly realised that was normal because she was ignoring me with purpose!???????? As soon as I went to the kitchen and make noises with a bag of chips she would come running wanting some!
Jokes aside, I think you did a good job making people aware of the ear problem so they can get help before its to late!
it’s a very informative post.. Will be very helpful for parents
I didn’t know that hearing loss could happen at such an early age and could be diagnosed and cured too. This is very helpful, Amrita. Thanks for sharing.
Oh this is quite serious! This post will help many parents!
Informative post and a warning to for those who neglect these things
This is an interesting and informative post, and I think many parents need to read a post like this in order to be aware and take action.
As always one o most informative post
Such amazing information.. You’ve put it so well thanks for sharing
Good warning post! I hope many parents-to-be or parents of young babies read this. I’ve tweeted it.
Thankyou for writing a post full of awareness! It’s important to notice such changes … like doorbell or startling!
I do get up by the doorbell but guess it’s ok ?
A close relative suffered because of hearing loss and one of the main reasons was delay in detection
Thanks for such an informative post.