How a Hearing Specialist Can Help Manage Pediatric Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can significantly influence more than just your child’s ears. Undetected hearing loss can hinder speech and language development, impacting social skills adversely. The ability to hear well is pivotal in the natural acquisition of vocabulary, and delays in this progression can effect academic success and professional environments. Even when hearing loss affects just one ear, it can lead to challenges in hearing amidst background noise and locating sounds. Moreover, it interferes with speech clarity as children may struggle to access common everyday sounds, potentially resulting in missing or mispronouncing components of speech. Prompt identification and treatment of hearing loss typically mitigate these developmental setbacks.

What is Pediatric Hearing Loss?

Pediatric hearing loss pertains to a reduced ability to perceive sounds in infants, children or adolescents. This condition can vary in severity and impact both ears. It poses challenges in comprehending spoken language, affecting a child’s ability to communicate effectively and engage socially. Timely identification and management of pediatric hearing loss are crucial to mitigate potential developmental setbacks, particularly in speech, language and academic achievements.

What Are the Symptoms of Pediatric Hearing Loss

Several indicators of hearing loss can manifest in children, notably affecting their responsiveness to sound, sentence formation and speech patterns. Kids with undiagnosed hearing issues tend to construct shorter sentences with simplified structures, which might impede their comprehension and composition of complex sentences. Moreover, these children often display distinctive speech patterns that might be challenging to decipher. Such speech difficulties arise from their hearing challenges, causing a hindrance in perceiving common but softer speech sounds.

Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss in Children

There are several effects of untreated hearing loss in children that can impact their life and development. Untreated hearing loss may delay language development, affecting their ability to comprehend instructions and engage effectively in classroom activities. Socially, untreated hearing loss might lead to feelings of isolation or frustration due to communication difficulties with peers, potentially impacting friendships and social interactions. Early intervention can combat the effects hearing loss has on your child.

What Hearing Tests Are Conducted for Children

During a comprehensive hearing assessment, your child’s audiologist will conduct a thorough health history and examination. A variety of distinct hearing tests are employed, some applicable to all age groups, while others are selected based on your child’s age. Some of these tests include:

• Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs): This test evaluates the inner ear’s response to sound by measuring the sounds emitted by the cochlea in response to auditory stimulation.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR): ABR assesses the auditory nerve and brain’s reaction to sound by measuring the electrical activity generated in response to auditory stimuli.
• Conditioned play audiometry (CPA): CPA measures a child’s hearing sensitivity across different frequencies by encouraging them to engage in play activities in response to various sound intensities.
• Tympanometry: It examines the movement of the eardrum in response to changes in air pressure, evaluating the function of the middle ear.
• Behavioral audiometry: This test involves observing a child’s behavioral reactions, such as head movements or hand gestures, in response to sounds of different loudness and pitch.
• Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA): VRA employs visual stimuli to evaluate infants or young children’s hearing abilities by associating auditory stimuli with a rewarding visual cue, encouraging responses to sound stimuli.

Providing and Fitting Hearing aids

If your audiologist assesses your child has hearing loss, the next steps would be to choose a hearing aid to suit your child’s needs. Hearing aids are designed to cater to children’s unique requirements, considering their comfort and ease of use. Typically, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are recommended for children due to their versatility, providing flexibility for adjustments and accommodating growth. Waterproof or water-resistant features can be advantageous for active children prone to exposure to moisture or sweat. Additionally, advanced technological features, such as noise reduction and feedback cancellation, can enhance a child’s listening experience in various environments,

After your child chooses their hearing aid an audiologist will be able to inform you about the device. This entails how to remove and insert the device, clean the hearing aids and change the batteries on the device. Your audiologist will also be able to show you how to maintain your hearing aids, ensuring your child’s hearing aid longevity.

If you want to learn more about hearing loss or treatment options, schedule an appointment with an audiologist. At Hearing Wellness Centre, our audiologists will provide the perfect solutions for you. Call us today at (844) 663-9433.