{"id":2928,"date":"2022-02-18T15:05:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T20:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.fm1.dev\/signs-of-pediatric-hearing-loss\/"},"modified":"2024-10-14T16:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T20:33:45","slug":"signs-of-pediatric-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/signs-of-pediatric-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs of Pediatric Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most common misconceptions about <a href=\"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/uncategorized\/signs-of-pediatric-hearing-loss\/\">hearing loss<\/a> is that it only impacts older adults. Hearing loss is the third most pervasive medical condition people experience today. It impacts people of all ages and can be present at birth or develop at any age. Pediatric hearing loss refers to impaired hearing experienced by children. This can be temporary or chronic depending on the cause. Hearing loss in children can cause speech delays so intervening early and seeking treatment is an important way to prioritize healthy development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Causes of Childhood Hearing Loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. These types of hearing loss have different causes and treatment options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conductive: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this type of hearing loss happens in the outer or middle ear. This prevents sound from being fully absorbed and traveling through the ear canal to the inner ear, creating hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is temporary and is typically treated with medications. Common causes include:\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colds, allergies, ear infections produce a buildup of fluid in the ear<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ear wax accumulation in the ear canal\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign objects that get stuck in the ear or damage the ear<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noncancerous tumors, bone growths<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Sensorineural: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">occurs in the inner ear and results from damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. These hair cells play a critical role in how we hear \u2013 they convert incoming soundwaves into electrical signals which are sent to the brain. The brain then interprets and assigns meaning to these signals which are how we understand what we hear. Sensorineural hearing loss can be present at birth (not as common) or can be acquired after birth. Common causes include:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genetics, premature birth, low birth weight are factors that can contribute to hearing loss at birth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acquired sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by exposure to loud noise, chronic ear infections, and head injuries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <a href=\"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/hearing-loss\/\">type of hearing loss<\/a> is permanent because hair cells in the inner ear do not regenerate unlike other types of cells we have. There are also no medical treatments that can replenish these cells. Fortunately, there are effective ways sensorineural hearing loss can be treated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs of Pediatric Hearing Loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hearing loss reduces the capacity to detect and process speech as well as sound. This produces a range of symptoms including the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>For newborns and infants:\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doesn\u2019t get startled by loud or sudden sounds\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doesn\u2019t respond to your voice or being spoken to<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No response to toys that make a noise\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doesn\u2019t turn their head towards sounds\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making less babbling noises or doesn\u2019t try to repeat simple sounds\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doesn\u2019t respond to their name\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>For toddlers and older children:\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experiences speech or language delays\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty articulating thoughts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increases the volume on electronic devices\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has learning challenges at school\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expresses experiencing ear pain and earaches\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble hearing especially with background noise\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is imperative to be aware of these signs and intervene as soon as you notice any hearing challenges your child may be experiencing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosing and Treating Pediatric Hearing Loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few diagnostic tools that are used to identify pediatric hearing loss which largely depends on the child\u2019s age. Pediatric audiologists can use the following tests:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) to assess hearing among infants as young as 6 months. This involves playing sounds and seeing if the infant turns their head towards the sound.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for toddlers and preschoolers: hearing healthcare providers may use a strategy referred to as play audiometry. This turns the hearing test into a game where the child is asked to perform a task when they hear a sound (clap your hand when you hear the sound for example).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">older kids: similar to adult hearing tests, school-aged kids can have their hearing tested by responding to sounds that are played through headphones they are wearing. They are asked to indicate which sounds they can hear as this information is being collected.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the degree of hearing impairment, treatment options could include hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, and speech therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you recognize any of the symptoms listed, it is important to <a href=\"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/contact\/\">schedule an appointment<\/a> with your child\u2019s primary care physician. After having their ears and symptoms assessed, your family doctor can refer you to a pediatric audiologist who can conduct further testing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most common misconceptions about hearing loss is that it only impacts older adults. Hearing loss is the third most pervasive medical condition people experience today. It impacts people of all ages and can be present at birth or develop at any age. Pediatric hearing loss refers to impaired hearing experienced by children&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2928"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2928"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5142,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2928\/revisions\/5142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/speechandhearingassoc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}