HEARING LOSS AND HOW TO PREVENT HEARING LOSS FOR CHILDREN

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Hearing loss is a decrease in the ability to perceive sounds. It can be partial or total, sudden or gradual, temporary or permanent. It can affect one ear or both. In general, the risk of hearing loss increases with age.

The duration of hearing loss depends on its cause. Sensorineural hearing loss tends to be permanent.

If you have sudden, severe hearing loss, you will notice immediately that your ability to hear has decreased dramatically or disappeared totally in the affected ear.

If your hearing loss is gradual, your symptoms may be more subtle. You may have difficulty understanding conversations. Family members may complain that you play the radio or TV too loudly. You may ask them to repeat what they say or frequently misunderstand what they are saying.

Hearing loss in children:

Hearing loss is a common condition presenting in children. Speech and language outcomes for children with hearing loss are related to identification of the hearing loss and to the degree of hearing loss. Early identification and appropriate, prompt intervention yield better outcomes. An understanding of the relevant anatomy, common causes, testing strategies, and management of hearing loss can help the primary care physicians maximize communication development in children.

Diagnosis:

Hearing test by audiometry for adults, big children.

Hearing test by oto acoustic emissions or brainstem audiometry for babies and small children.

We can test the newborn hearing from the first day after birth.

• Management (depends of the cause)
• Medication
• Surgery
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implant