Hearing rehabilitation for children
Hearing loss in children is an issue that must be addressed with immediate and specialized attention. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are vital for the development of the child's language and social skills. Specialist speech therapists and audiologists assess the condition and tailor hearing rehabilitation programs to each child's needs.
I can't hear well - What does it mean?
Hearing loss in children is not just a normal occurrence like in adults.
If a child does not respond as expected in the voice of parents, increases the volume of the television or has difficulty articulating words, it may be a hearing problem.
Such a condition can affect language development, interaction with other children, and the child's overall quality of life. Often, children are unable to express their discomfort or explain their condition, making early diagnosis even more important.
In such cases, immediate evaluation by specialists is necessary to confirm the existence of hearing loss and determine its extent.
What are the causes of childhood hearing loss?
Many factors may cause hearing loss in infants and children in the first years of their lives.
The main prenatal causes is:
- Heredity (even if there seems to be no family history)
- Pregnancy complications
- Infections of the pregnant woman during pregnancy (e.g. rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis)
- Genetic syndromes (e.g. Ushers, Alport, Crouzon)
The main postnatal causes is:
- Premature birth with a weight of less than 1500 grams
- Complications during childbirth (e.g., preterm labor, neonatal intensive care unit stay, severe jaundice, oxygen therapy)
- Neonatal infections (e.g. meningitis, measles, mumps)
- Frequent and repeated ear infections
- Exposure to very loud noises, even for a short period of time
What are the signs of childhood hearing loss?
Early detection of hearing problems is crucial, because children learn to communicate by imitating the sounds they hear. The most critical period for children's speech and language development is mainly before the age of 4. Therefore, it is particularly important to recognize any signs that indicate hearing loss early.
An infant during the first year displays some characteristic behaviors related to their hearing:
- Startles or jumps at the sound of a sudden sound.
- Recognizes his parents' voice at the age of 3 months.
- Turns eyes or head in the direction of sound at 6 months of age.
- Imitates sounds or pronounces some words, such as "Mom" or "bye-bye" at the age of 12 months.
The main indications for a toddler who may have hearing loss are:
- Limited or complete absence of speech
- Frequent inattention and other learning difficulties
- Lack of full response to a conversation or inappropriate response to a question.
Preschool or school-age children experiencing hearing loss have the following indications:
- They turn the TV volume up too much.
- They don't respond when someone calls them or answer questions inappropriately.
- They have articulation problems or are late in speaking.
- They face learning problems
- They watch others to imitate what they do.
- Complaining of ear pain or noises in the head
The importance of preventive care
for children's hearing
Early detection, timely and accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of hearing loss are crucial both in the development of speech and language and in the psychosocial development of children.
Infants should be screened soon after birth. Screening is best done between 10th and 21th day after birth. If your child has not undergone such an examination, it is important to contact the Center for Preventive Pediatrics to schedule a preventive hearing test.
Early diagnosis and proper treatment of hearing loss for an infant is vital because If diagnosis is delayed, learning and speech problems may occur. Many studies report that children with hearing loss who receive the necessary support in a timely manner develop their language skills better than other children who do not receive the appropriate support.
It is also important to consider the stress and discomfort felt by both the hearing-impaired child and his family, since the child is unable to understand why he is having difficulty learning simple things and his family cannot understand the cause of their child's low school performance.
In some cases, hearing problems in children who have had an infection, an injury, or were exposed to harmful levels of noise do not appear immediately but later in their childhood.
Early detection and diagnosis of hearing loss is important for a child's development. The next equally important step is to treat the hearing loss with the ultimate goal of better developing the language abilities, knowledge and social integration of the hearing-impaired child. Depending on the degree and extent of the hearing loss, speech therapy may also be needed for the child's full and faster development.
The path to recovery
At DR GEORGE Hearing Centers, the world of children facing hearing challenges is transformed through specialized care and use of technological solutionsn, such as the hearing aids we offer. The prevention and treatment of hearing loss in childhood begins with early detection, and here the active participation and information of parents plays a crucial role.
The hearing aids we offer are specially designed to meet the unique needs of children at every stage of their development. They are durable, easy to use and easily adapt to a child's active lifestyle, providing the best possible hearing experience at every moment of the day. By using hearing aids, children can explore, learn and communicate more effectively, enabling them to develop their language, social and academic skills.
At the same time, our team offers full support and education to parents on the proper use, maintenance and fitting of hearing aids, as well as advice on how to successfully integrate the hearing aids into the child’s daily life. The special programs we develop for children and their families aim to create an environment that encourages self-confidence and independence.
Listen to life, with us!
At DR GEORGE Hearing Centers, we have created an environment with the appropriate infrastructure and technical equipment to provide services and personalized hearing care for all ages.
