Heredity, prenatal infections, drug exposure, and genetic defects can cause hearing loss in newborns. Hearing loss in children is often not the result of and general deafness, but his hearing loss that is acquired during childhood from injury, infection, illness, or noise exposure.
Infants who have hearing loss fail to respond to noises and sounds. If the hearing loss is mild, and may go unnoticed until a hearing loss is detected by routine hearing tests or the child has delays in speech development.
If hearing loss in children is left untreated, a young child can experience language delays and speech impairment. Hearing loss in children can often be improved with the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Hearing loss in children is sometimes treatable. If the sound is being blocked from reaching the inner ear, the hearing loss experienced is called conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is often treatable, but if treatment is delayed, permanent damage can result.
Hearing loss in children is often caused by ear infections. Some ear infections are resistant to treatment or are recurrent. Ear tubes may be surgically inserted to clear a persistent ear infection and help prevent future infections.
Permanent hearing loss caused by genetic syndromes, normal genetic heredity, or trauma to the cochlea or auditory nerve is called sensorineural hearing loss. To trade sensorineural hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be recommended. A cochlear implant is an electronic hearing device that delivers sound directly to the cochlea.
The best treatment for the child with hearing loss is often determined by the type of hearing loss and its severity. Hearing aids designed for children often have hearing aid accessories that can be added as the child matures.
Parents of children with hearing loss may need to educate themselves on hearing loss treatments and the effects of hearing loss on children. Parents may need to be advocates for their children to make sure that the child receives appropriate support services in the school. Socialization is sometimes a concern for children with hearing loss, therefore parents should engage their child in social activities such as sports.
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