Roughly three out of 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, and its prevalence is increasing in adolescents. Hearing loss in childhood can negatively impact the child’s speech and language development, so timely intervention is key. Intervention options are based on the type and severity of your child’s hearing loss. An audiologist will offer treatment options based on your child’s hearing loss, speech/language skills, and academic performance.
What Causes Childhood Hearing Loss?
There are three main causes of hearing loss in children.
- Congenital hearing loss. (Hearing loss from birth).
- Acquired hearing loss. (Hearing loss developed later in life).
- Otitis media (ear infection) is a common childhood condition that occurs when fluid accumulates in the middle ear space. This can cause difficulty hearing, pain, and drainage.
What Are the Symptoms of Childhood Hearing Loss?
How can you tell if your child might have a hearing loss? There are a number of signs that should prompt you to have your child’s hearing tested ASAP. These include:
- A delay in speech and language development.
- Failure to respond to loud noises or your voice.
- Poor academic performance.
- Frequent ear infections.
- Disorders associated with hearing loss (ex. Down syndrome).
- Family history of hearing loss.
How Is Hearing Loss Treated?
We offer a variety of hearing aids appropriate for pediatric hearing aids. If hearing aids are determined to be an appropriate option for your child’s hearing an audiologist will discuss options in more detail during a hearing aid evaluation. Hearing loss can impact a large portion of development, so a team-approach is the most effective use of intervention. Members of your child’s team may include:
- Audiologist
- ENT
- Pediatrician
- Teacher(s)
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Educational audiologist and/or teacher of the Deaf or hard-of-hearing
- Other specialists: Cardiologist, Neurologist, Ophthalmologist, physical or occupational therapist
Hearing Aid Accessories
Along with your child’s hearing aids, there are a number of accessories that can improve language and learning. Children can benefit from use of classroom-specific hearing aid accessories, as classes and lecture halls prove to be some of the hardest places to focus for those with hearing loss.
Call Oregon Ear, Nose & Throat Center at (541) 779-7331 for more information or to schedule an appointment.