hear the sounds. ‚
What are the causes?
- Genetic problems
- Infections before birth
- Problems after being born
- An accident where the head or ear is hurt
- Fluid or wax in the ear
- An ear infection
- A tumor growing in the ear
- Drugs like some antibiotics or chemo
What can make this more likely to happen?
Frequent ear infections can make hearing loss more likely. Having a family member with a hearing loss also raises your childs risk. So does having other conditions like a genetic problem like Down syndrome. Being around loud noises, especially for a long time, can raise your child's chance of having a hearing loss. Fluid in the middle ear or a hole in the eardrum may cause hearing loss. Certain drugs may harm the ear. ‚
What are the main signs?
The signs of hearing loss can be different at different ages. A teen may be able to tell you if they have a hearing problem. Babies, toddlers, and even kindergarten or grade school children may not notice or tell you there is a problem. ‚
- Babies may not startle at loud noises or turn to the sound of your voice.
- Toddlers may have delayed speech or speech that is not clear.
- Preschool kids and older may seem to ignore you or not follow instructions. They may also keep the volume high on TVs or portable electronic devices.
- Older kids may also appear to have behavior problems that are a reaction to them not understanding instructions.
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Babies born in a hospital will have a hearing screening before leaving to go home. If that test is normal but you are worried about your childs hearing or speaking, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will take your child's history and do an exam. The doctor will look inside of your child's ears to check for fluid or ear infections. Your doctor may order hearing tests, based on the age of your child. ‚
Your baby will lie in a bed or crib for the tests. There are two kinds of tests used to screen for hearing loss in babies. Both tests are painless and take between 5 and 15 minutes. These are: ‚
- Otoacoustic Emissions or OAE
- This test measures the response of the inner ear to the sound stimuli.
- A technician will place a small microphone into your baby's ear canal.
- The microphone makes sounds like clicks or tones.
- The microphone also measures sound waves or an "echo" from an area inside the ear.
- If your baby hears normally, the microphone notes an echo. If there is no echo, it may be a sign of hearing loss.
- Auditory Brainstem Response or ABR
- This test measures how hearing nerves respond to sound.
- Your baby needs to be very quiet or asleep during this test.
- A technician will place earphones in your baby's ear. The technician will also place three or four sticky patches, called electrodes, on your baby's forehead, back of neck, and behind the ear.
- The electrodes measure the brain's response to the click-like sounds.
- The results show up on the computer screen.
Tests for older babies and children may be done with your child sitting on your lap in a special room. ‚
- Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation or BAE
- This test measures how all parts of your child's ears respond to sound overall.
- Your child is awake during this test.
- The technician watches your child's responses to the sounds at different pitches and levels.
- Your child may respond by turning his head, raising his hand, or pushing a button.
- Middle ear testing
- Measures how well the eardrum moves back and forth
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Your childs doctor will decide the care based on the type of hearing loss that your child has. For children, the main goal is to help your child learn to develop language skills without delay. Other goals are to help communication, help hearing, and stop any further hearing loss. The doctor may order speech therapy to help your child learn how to make sounds and to speak more clearly. You and your child may learn sign language to "talk" using hand shapes and movements. Your child may need a tool to help them hear well. The doctor may suggest: ‚
- Surgery to ease fluid buildup behind the eardrum if your child has frequent ear infections
- Hearing aids ¢ ˆ ’ Use microphones to pick up sounds and tiny loudspeakers to send louder signals into the ear
- Cochlear implant ¢ ˆ ’ Bypasses the harmed hair cells in the cochlea. Sound information is sent straight to the nerve in the brain.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Treat an infection
- Get rid of fluid in your childs ear
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Have your child wear ear protection around loud noises. Buy earplugs, earmuffs, or both. Noise is too loud if you need to shout for your child to hear what you are saying. Noise this loud is harmful to your childs hearing.
- Take extra care when letting your child use headphones or ear buds. Be sure that the volume is not too loud. Keep the volume level on personal listening devices at no more than half volume.
Where can I learn more?
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ‚
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/effects.htm ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/hearingloss/facts.html ‚
March of Dimes ‚
http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/hearing-impairment.aspx ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-01-16 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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