Why
is early hearing assessment and intervention important?
The
earlier a child receives intervention for a hearing loss, the
better the outcome. Children with the same degree of hearing
loss who begin using hearing aids on a full time basis at 6
weeks of age have significantly better outcomes than children
fitted with hearing aids at 6 months of age. Children wearing
hearing aids full time by 6 months have significantly better
outcomes than children who began using hearing aids at age 2.
Critical development of the auditory pathways takes place very
early in life. Ask your doctor for a referral to an audiologist
who has expertise with children the very first moment you have
a twinge of doubt about your child's hearing. Each week
of life is precious. It is never too early to seek help.
Will
hearing aids give my child normal hearing?
Hearing aids will give your child the ability to perceive
more sounds around them including speech. Initially, a
child may be surprised or startled by sounds when using hearing
aids because s/he is hearing sounds from sources which were
previously quiet. A child with a severe hearing loss may
not know that doors slamming make noise, or that dogs bark when
they move their jaws. Each child is different. Help
your child learn to interpret sound occurring naturally
around them by labeling sounds as your child indicates an awareness
to them.
For
example:
"Scruffy is barking. I wonder what he sees."
"That's
the doorbell. Let's see who is here."
"I
hear the microwave. Lunch is almost ready."
Will
my child learn to talk?
No one knows for sure. However giving your child optimal
sound quality by using appropriate hearing aids during all waking
hours as early in life as possible gives your child every opportunity.
The clarity of the speech signal can be further enhanced by
the following:
Look
directly at your child at a distance of 2-6 feet with your face
clearly visible and the light on your face rather than your
back.
Why
does my child have a hearing loss?
Hearing loss can be caused by illness,
injury, or genetic factors. (See Causes of hearing loss)
The cause of 50% of hearing loss remains unknown. Ask
your doctor or audiologist for more information.
Some
hearing losses are progressive. A child born with normal
hearing could develop hearing loss at a later time. If
you have concerns about your child's hearing, see an audiologist
with expertise in evaluating hearing in children.
