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Hearing ability is important for children to develop speech and language skills as
they grow. In the past, hearing loss in children often went undetected until the child
was around two years old, when it became obvious that he or she wasn't talking yet.
Research has demonstrated that detection and intervention for hearing loss prior to
six months of age results in significantly better outcomes than intervention after six
months of age. As a result, newborn hearing screening has become universal in
hospitals across the United States and children with hearing loss are being identified
and treated at much younger ages.
The above causes of congenital hearing loss are all non-genetic factors. However,
non-genetic factors account for only around 25 percent of congenital hearing loss.
Experts agree that genetic factors - meaning the hearing loss is hereditary - cause
more than 50 percent of all hearing loss in children, whether the loss is present at
birth or manifests later in life.
Genetic factors cause more than 50 percent of all hearing loss in children,
whether present at birth or developed later in life.
Genetic factors that might cause congenital hearing loss include:
Autosomal recessive hearing loss - This is the most common type of genetic
congenital hearing loss - autosomal recessive accounts for around 70 percent of
all genetic hearing loss cases. What this means is that neither parent has a hearing
loss, but each parent carries a recessive gene that gets passed to the child. Parents
are usually surprised when their child is born with this type of hearing loss
because people typically aren't even aware they have the recessive gene.
Autosomal dominant hearing loss - This type of hearing loss accounts for around
15 percent of genetic hearing losses, according to the American Speech-
Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In autosomal dominant hearing loss,
one parent carrying a dominant gene for hearing loss passes it to the offspring.
This parent may or may not have hearing loss, but he or she might have other
symptoms or signs of a genetic syndrome.
Genetic syndromes - These include Usher syndrome, Treacher Collins
syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, Down syndrome, Crouzon syndrome and
Alport syndrome.
You might have noticed that the percentages don't add up to 100 for genetic and
non-genetic causes of congenital hearing loss. This is because some of the time,
doctors are not sure why an infant is born with a hearing loss.
Acquired hearing loss
Children can also be affected by acquired hearing loss, meaning it occurs after birth.
There are various causes of acquired hearing loss, including:
A perforated eardrum
Otosclerosis or Meniere's diseases, which are progressive
Infections like meningitis, measles, mumps or whooping cough
Taking ototoxic medications
A serious head injury
Exposure to loud noise, causing noise-induced hearing loss
Untreated or frequent otitis media (ear infections)
Exposure to secondhand smoke
Older children could also acquire hearing loss that is either permanent or temporary.
Here are some things to look for if you think your toddler or preschool-age child
might have hearing loss:
Has difficulty understanding what people are saying.
Speaks differently than other children her or his age.
Doesn't reply when you call his or her name.
Responds inappropriately to questions (misunderstands).
Turns up the TV volume incredibly high or sits very close to the TV to hear.
Has problems academically, especially if they weren't present before.
Has speech or language delays or problems articulating things.
Watches others in order to imitate their actions, at home or in school.
Complains of ear pain, earaches or noises.
Cannot understand over the phone or switches ears frequently while talking on
the phone.
Says "what?" or "huh?" several times a day.
Watches a speaker's face very intently - many children's hearing loss escapes
detection because they are very successful lip readers.
There has never been more hope for children with hearing loss, even those with
profound loss.
Audiologists can perform in-depth behavioral hearing examinations for even very
young children (as young as 6 months) who cannot participate in traditional testing
procedures. There are several objective tests that infants, toddlers and young
children can undergo as well. These tests are painless and non-invasive. After exam,
the audiologist will spend time talking with you about your child's hearing ability
and recommend an appropriate treatment plan or medical intervention.
Hearing aids
Hearing aids are just one kind of device that can help children with hearing loss
hear clearly again. There are many advanced models, including high-powered aids
for children with profound hearing loss, that offer high-quality hearing assistance.
Many solutions for children include special coverings and other accessories to
ensure that young children don't remove or misplace their hearing aids. There are
several models of devices to choose from, including behind-the-ear hearing aids or
those that are almost entirely in the ear canal and very discreet.
Cochlear implants
Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that directly stimulate the
auditory nerve in the inner ear with electrical stimulation. Cochlear implants also
have an external device, and many companies make kid-friendly devices that can
be held on with a soft headband. Cochlear implants work for infants and children
who cannot benefit from hearing aids.
Speech therapy
For children who have had hearing loss that has affected their speech, he or she
might need speech-language therapy after getting hearing aids or a cochlear implant
to help him or her catch up on speech delays.