Children’s hearing problems
Hearing problems in children are a critical part of social, emotional, and cognitive development in the early stages of their lives. Children experiencing hearing problems can extend from a range of causes including:
- Build-up of wax within the ear canal
- Excess mucus within the Eustachian tube, caused by a cold
- Otitis media (infection of the middle ear)
- Genetic disorders
- Certain diseases (such as meningitis)
Signs that may indicate a hearing problems in children
Some of the indications that your child may have trouble hearing include:
- Doesn’t respond when called
- Complains of a ringing sound in their ears (tinnitus).
- Talks too loudly or watches the television with the volume turned up too high
- Pronounces words incorrectly
- Appears inattentive and prone to daydreaming
- Diagnosis methods
The type of tests used to diagnose hearing loss depends on the age of the child, but can include:
- Objective tests such as auditory brainstem response testing, which measure the electrical activity in the brain in response to a sound
- Simple tests such as shaking a rattle nearby and observing the response (Behavioural Observation Audiometry)
- Tests with an audiometer – a machine that produces sounds like beeps and whistles. Whether or not the child can hear certain sounds helps to pinpoint their degree of hearing loss
Treatment options
- Treatment depends on the cause and severity of hearing loss, but can include:
- Antibiotics for otitis media
- Removal of the foreign object or wax plug
- Hearing aids to amplify sounds
- A cochlear implant may be considered in the case of severe or profound hearing loss
- Vibrotactile aids, which translate sound into vibrations felt through the skin.
- Speech therapy
- Assistance from a specialist teacher of the deaf to help the child make the most of their residual hearing
Treatment by an ENT Surgeon
- ENT – head and neck surgeons can provide a complete evaluation and treatment options regarding children’s hearing problems
- An ENT specialist can receive up to 15 years of university and post-graduate training in surgery, concentrating on ear, nose and throat procedures
- Because they study the complex anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the entire head and neck, ENT specialists are uniquely qualified to perform the procedures that affect the ear and hearing.