Hearing Loss – H&S Education & Parenting
Hearing Loss In A Child: My Child Can’t Hear?
What Are The Causes Of Hearing Loss?
There are 2 main types of hearing loss; congenital hearing loss where a baby is born with hearing loss & acquired hearing loss where a child develops hearing loss later in life. A 3rd type is known as temporary hearing loss. Below are some of the causes of hearing loss:
1. Congenital Hearing Loss In Babies- Babies born with hearing loss are said to have congenital hearing loss. Genetics factors such as autosomal recessive hearing loss (which accounts for 70%- is a condition where both parents have normal hearing but carry the recessive gene to pass on the condition to the baby). Other genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome can also be a cause. Birth complications that cause a lack of oxygen to the baby or preterm babies with low birth weight, maternal infections namely herpes, rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, maternal diabetes, drug, alcohol abuse or smoking or use of ototoxic medicines (certain antibiotics and pain killers can damage the fetal hearing structures such as the auditory nerve), can all be the causes of congenital hearing loss in babies.
2. Acquired Hearing Loss In A Child- A child may not be born with this, but may later develop with hearing loss. The causes of acquired hearing loss in a child can be many from a perforated eardrum, childhood infections such as measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, frequent or untreated ear infections (Otitis media), injury to the brain that controls the hearing, ototoxic medications (certain medicines that can damage the hearing), noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to loud sounds, among others.
3. Temporary Hearing Loss In A Child- A child may experience hearing loss that may come and go, and whilst this may not be lifelong it can still have a negative impact on speech and language development. This is most often caused by middle ear infections (Otitis media) which are common in children that can lead to temporary hearing loss due to fluid buildup.
What Are The Sign & Symptoms Of Hearing Loss?
0 to 4 months- It is normal for an infant to get startled by unexpected, loud sounds, respond to your voice by smiling, cooing, or calm down.
4 to 9 months- It is normal for a baby to smile when spoken to, respond to toys that make sounds such as rattles, babble, turn their heads to the source of familiar sounds, understand hand motions.
9 to 15 months- It is normal for a baby to respond to his/her name, make different babbling sounds, imitate simple sounds, use his/her voice to get attention, understand easy commands.
15 to 20 months- It is normal for a child to be able to use simple words to communicate, point to different body parts, name common objects, listen to and recite nursery rhymes or stories.
Toddlers & School-Aged Children- Your child should be able to speak clearly, understand others, respond to his/her name or commands, reply to questions appropriately. If, however, your child can’t do any and has to lip read, asks to repeat questions, has speech/language delays, complains of earaches then you must take him to a paediatrician as your child could have acquired hearing loss.
Diagnosis, Treatment & How You Can Help As A Parent?
1. Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)- For this test a parent holds their infant on their lap in a sound booth where sounds are played from the left or right side of the child. A good response is when a child’s reflexive head turns towards the sound. This test can be performed on infants as young as 6 months.
2. Play Audiometry- This test is performed on toddlers and preschool children to determine hearing loss. It is a test disguised as a game performed in a booth, where the parent trains the child to respond to any sound by performing the task correctly. Earphones can be used if the toddler is cooperative, which can be more specific.
Once the cause, type, and severity of the hearing loss is determined, treatment in the form of hearing aids, cochlear implants along with speech therapy, counseling, school help may be recommended.
As parents, it is important to be understanding and patient as language & speech delays are also common. At all times, avoid criticising or scolding, instead use praise when the child says a word or a sentence correctly. Help your child learn at school by getting school help to ensure he/she has an equal opportunity as others to learn. You can make use of an educational audiologist or get a tutor to help your child at home to learn. If speech therapy is suggested then get a speech therapist to help your child with his/her speech and language skills. Remember, it’s not your child’s fault and it’s not your fault, hence anger, guilt, frustration won’t help. Your focus as a parent should be help your child have as normal a life as possible!
