What is Hearing Loss?
Deafness
is usually the result of inner ear or nerve damage. It may be caused by a congenital
defect, injury, disease, certain medication, exposure to loud noise or
age-related wear and tear.
The
chief symptom is an inability to hear sound.
For
some, hearing may be possible with surgery or a hearing device. Lip-reading
skills, written or printed text and sign language may help with communication.
What is
Hearing Loss in Children?
A
hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual
way. This includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing (acoustic) nerve, and auditory system.
Hearing Loss in
Children
Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability
to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with
hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their
full potential. If you think that a child might have hearing loss, ask the
child’s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait!
Types of Hearing Loss
A hearing loss can happen when any
part of the ear or auditory (hearing) system is not working in the usual way.
Outer Ear
The outer ear is made up of:
- the part we see on the sides of
our heads, known as pinna
- the ear canal
- the
eardrum, sometimes called the tympanic membrane, which separates the outer
and middle ear
Middle Ear
The middle ear is made up of:
- the eardrum
- three
small bones called ossicles that send the movement of the eardrum to the
inner ear
Inner Ear
The inner ear is made up of:
- the snail shaped organ for
hearing known as the cochlea
- the semicircular canals that
help with balance
- the
nerves that go to the brain
Auditory (ear) Nerve
This nerve sends sound information
from the ear to the brain.
Auditory (Hearing) System
The auditory pathway processes sound information as it travels from the ear to
the brain so that our brain pathways are part of our hearing.
There are four Basic types of hearing loss:
- Conductive Hearing Loss
Hearing loss caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. This type of hearing loss can often be treated with medicine or surgery.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Hearing loss that occurs when there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.
- Mixed Hearing Loss
Hearing loss that includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder
Hearing loss that occurs when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, sound isn’t organized in a way that the brain can understand.
Causes of hearing loss include:
·
Damage to the inner
ear. Aging and loud noise can cause wear and tear on the hairs
or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. Damaged or
missing hairs or nerve cells don't send electrical signals well. This causes
hearing loss.
Higher pitched tones
may seem muffled. It may be hard to pick out words against background noise.
·
Buildup of earwax. Over time,
earwax can block the ear canal and keep sound waves from passing through.
Earwax removal can help restore hearing.
·
Ear infection or
unusual bone growths or tumors. In the outer or middle ear, any of these
can cause hearing loss.
·
Ruptured eardrum, also
known as tympanic membrane perforation. Loud blasts of
noise, sudden changes in pressure, poking an eardrum with an object and
infection can cause the eardrum to burst.
Signs and Symptoms
The
signs and symptoms of hearing loss are different for each child. If you think
that your child might have hearing loss, ask the child’s doctor for a hearing
screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait!
Even if a child has passed a hearing
screening before, it is important to look out for the following signs.
Signs in Babies
- Does not startle at loud
noises.
- Does not turn to the source of
a sound after 6 months of age.
- Does not say single words,
such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age.
- Turns head when he or she sees
you but not if you only call out his or her name. This sometimes is
mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the
result of a partial or complete hearing loss.
- Seems to hear some sounds but not others.
Signs in Children
- Speech is delayed.
- Speech is not clear.
- Does not follow directions.
This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but
could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.
- Often says, “Huh?”
- Turns the TV
volume up too high.
Babies and children should reach milestones
in how they play, learn, communicate and act. A delay in any of these
milestones could be a sign of hearing loss or other developmental problem.
Visit our web page to see milestones that children should reach from 2 months
to 5 years of age.
Screening and Diagnosis
Hearing screening can tell if a child might
have hearing loss. Hearing screening is easy and is not painful. In fact,
babies are often asleep while being screened. It takes a very short time —
usually only a few minutes.
Babies
All babies should have a hearing screening
no later than 1 month of age. Most babies have their hearing screened while
still in the hospital. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it’s very important
to get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months of
age.
Children
Children should have their hearing tested
before they enter school or any time there is a concern about the child’s
hearing. Children who do not pass the hearing screening need to get a full
hearing test as soon as possible.
Prevention
The following
steps can help prevent hearing loss from loud noises and keep hearing loss from
aging from getting worse:
·
Protect
your ears. Staying away from loud noise is the best protection. In
the workplace, plastic earplugs or glycerin-filled earmuffs can help protect
hearing.
·
Have
your hearing tested. If you work around a lot of noise, think about regular
hearing tests. If you've lost some hearing, you can take steps to prevent
further loss.
·
Avoid
risks from hobbies and play. Riding a snowmobile or
a jet ski, hunting, using power tools, or listening to rock concerts can damage
hearing over time. Wearing hearing protectors or taking breaks from the noise
can protect your ears. Turning down the volume when listening to music helps
too.
Treatments for
hearing loss
Treatment
for hearing loss depends on what's causing it.
Sometimes
a GP may be able to treat the cause, for example:
- an ear
infection might be treated with antibiotics
- an earwax build-up might be treated with ear
drops or removed
If your
hearing loss is not caused by something a GP can treat, they may refer you to a
hearing specialist for further tests and treatment.
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