Hearing is an integral part of our lives. You enjoy the singing of birds, the rustle of grass, the thunder, and other amazing phenomena of nature. We talk and listen to friends and relatives every day. We interact with the outside world and people. All this is possible thanks to hearing organs! Unfortunately, more and more people are faced with a decrease in hearing acuity. There are many reasons for this but all of them lead to a deterioration in the quality of life. Hearing loss is a serious problem not only for adults but also for children!
A few facts about hearing loss in children
There is a misconception that hearing loss is an elderly problem. It was true about 20 years ago, but the situation is changing rapidly. Today, hearing loss is getting younger. The percentage of teenagers and children with hearing problems is growing rapidly.
Modern lifestyle, especially in large cities, negatively affects health, including hearing health. Hearing is a fragile system that is easily damaged. Unfortunately, damaged hair cells that respond to external sounds do not regenerate over time.
According to the WHO, more than 30 million children have hearing problems. Despite the measures taken, this figure is growing every year. Is it possible to reverse the situation? Scientists and doctors can not yet give a positive answer.
Why is healthy hearing so important?
Healthy hearing allows you to interact with the outside world and society. Therefore, hearing problems negatively affect the image and quality of life of any person. Along with hearing loss, a person’s cognitive capabilities also decrease. Gradually, other physiological and psychological difficulties develop, for example, depression. It all interferes with a happy life. These are adult difficulties.
The situation is even worse for children! Few people think so, but hearing is a key factor for development! Yes, the ability to hear allows you to understand and respond to external stimuli. In addition, hearing helps the development of speech and other cognitive functions of a person! Is it worth talking about communication between people and life in society?
Children with hearing problems and without proper treatment lag behind their healthy peers. It’s not good for the future fate of the child! Healthy hearing is important for children.
Do you want your child to be healthy and develop properly, delighting you with his victories and discoveries? Carefully monitor his health, including his hearing! It’s not as difficult as it seems at first glance.
How to recognize hearing loss in a child?
The main thing in recognizing hearing loss in children is the proper observation. The sooner adults notice changes in a child, the sooner they will get to the doctor, and the more effective treatment will be. Children need to have healthy hearing for development. Parents should always be ready to notice changes in time. How can an adult see the onset of hearing loss in a child?
Change in behavior
Hearing loss affects a person’s behavior at any age. Children react even more noticeably. You can always see the beginning of the problem if you pay attention to your child’s behavior. Each age has its signs that indicate a decrease in hearing acuity. Let’s look at them more closely.
Here are the signs of hearing loss in a child under one year:
- The baby does not respond to the mother’s voice or handclaps
- The child is not frightened by a sharp sound, for example, a barking dog
- The child can’t find the source of the sound and does not babble
What behaviors indicate hearing problems in preschool children? Here they are:
- Incomprehensible speech
- Delayed speech development
- The child often asks to repeat when communicating
- Inadvertence
- Rapid mood swings
Hearing loss can occur at any age. Does your child attend school? The following signs indicate hearing loss:
- Low academic performance and poor grades
- Poor communication with peers
- Social exclusion
- Frequent requests to repeat what was said
- The need to raise the volume of devices
- Irritability
Do not waste time if you notice similar symptoms in your child. They appear for a reason.
A hearing test at home
Irritability and poor grades in school are not always symptoms of hearing loss. After all, there are other problems, so you can check your child’s hearing health at home to make sure there is a problem before seeing a doctor. How can I do it?
The first is speech audiometry. You move away from the child at 6-7 m and whisper. If the child poorly hears you, then it may indicate a problem.
You can also test your hearing using an online hearing test. This is a simple but effective method. All you need is any device with internet access and headphones. Today, they are in every home. Such a hearing test is available to every family. The results will show the presence or absence of a problem.
Do not waste time if the results show hearing loss in a child. Sign up for a consultation with an audiologist!
Hearing tests at the audiologist
The doctor will begin the hearing test with speech audiometry. If he finds any abnormalities, he’ll prescribe additional diagnostics with the help of medical equipment. Today, tone audiometry is the most popular method. Tone audiometry is a painless and effective hearing test. It determines the hearing acuity of each ear. The results will show the degree of hearing loss if there is a problem. They also will help to choose the power of the hearing aid!
Healthy hearing is the most important factor for the development and happy life of a child! Its decline changes a lot. Do not despair ahead of time. Today, hearing care can effectively restore hearing. The main condition for treatment is to recognize hearing loss in time and make an appointment with a doctor! Be attentive and always watch your child!
