The Pediatric Hearing Center

We all take our senses for granted

We all take our senses for granted. Nobody ever expects to lose one, or have a loved one experience that loss, either. We often don't appreciate our senses until one or more is damaged in some way. Hearing is something we often take for granted, and it is important to keep our ears healthy. We can do this by eating healthfully, getting exercise, and having our ears checked regularly by a physician. It is also important not to put any foreign objects into either ear.

One of the people who need to have their ears checked often is a child. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, over 3 million children suffer from some type of hearing loss, and one third of them are younger than three. Often, hearing loss hinders the development of speech and language. Early detection can be the most important way to halt the onset of hearing problems in children.

If you suspect that your child may be struggling with hearing loss, you should set up an appointment with your pediatric audiologist so you can get testing done at a local hearing center. Reasons for hearing loss may be genetic, the result of high bilirubin numbers shortly after birth, bacterial meningitis, head trauma, or recurring ear infections.

There is never a bad time to get a hearing test. In fact, local school districts usually require them. There are a couple of different methods used when a child's hearing is evaluated. These are behavioral, which requires some type of response from the child if he hears a certain sound, and objective, which relies on available technology for a response while the child sits still. Sometimes the child will be asked to identify words and pictures to see how well he can hear the instructions during the testing process.

If your child is found to have some type of hearing problem, there are different options available:

-Amplification, which does nothing more than make a sound louder and more understandable. This technique used for children who have minor hearing loss. The most common types are behind the ear devices because they are most durable for active children. Sometimes your child needs a higher strength amplifier, so hearing aids may be required.

-Communication, through the use of sign language, finger spelling, or lip-reading so that a child can learn how to communicate. The audiologist at your hearing center can give some guides to help you learn how to teach your child these methods.

If you do your homework, you can find an audiologist who can perform the necessary hearing tests on your child at your local pediatric hearing center.

by: Abigail Aaronson

POST COMMENT

Unique Ways To Pick A Lock What A Hearing Center Can Do For You The Five Types Of Hearing Loss Three Ways A Hearing Center Can Help Finding Answers At A Hearing Center The Types Of Hearing Aids A Hearing Center Can Offer Three Things A Hearing Center Can Do For You Prevent Future Hearing Loss By Visiting A Hearing Center Hearing Center - Offering The Best In Hearing Technologies Colliers International Expands Southeast Presence Church Pastor Ed Young Messages Can A Tummy Tuck Change Your Life? Stop Sweaty Armpits For Good