Hearing loss is when your child’s hearing threshold (the lowest level at which they hear) is above 20 dB in both ears. Hearing threshold can be identified using audiometry tests appropriate for your child’s age by an audiologist. Based on the severity of the hearing loss, your child could have difficulty learning language to speak (communicate).
Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children).
There are various causes which are broadly classified as:
Congenital (from birth):
Prenatal infections to the mother
Acquired:
There are signs for the parent/caregiver to look out for that may indicate a risk for hearing loss! They are:
Not getting alarmed by loud sounds as infants
Delay in speaking (development of speech and language)
Reduced academic performance
Lip reading to understand
If your child has any of these symptoms, please get your child checked for hearing and other communication disorders.
Once diagnosed with the type and degree of hearing impairment by an audiologist, the next step would be management. Early intervention can bridge the gap between children with hearing loss and their peers. Intervention plans are unique to each child, their family and their goals.
The main aspect of intervention are:
Speech and language therapy
To get more insight about this information from a professional in detail
CONTACT US
Adults are said to have disabling hearing loss if the threshold of the ear with better hearing is above 35 dB. Normal hearing level for people below 50 is 15dB and above 50 is 25 dB. Hearing thresholds are identified with pure tone audiometry. The severity can range anywhere from mild to profound.
By 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.
Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.
Several reasons can cause a hearing impairment, such as:
Age-related - presbycusis
Trauma to the head of the ear
Otosclerosis (calcification of stapes bone in the ear)- this condition can have a genetic predisposition
Hearing loss caused by some of these factors is reversible up to a certain degree and others are permanent,
It is important to look out for signs that someone can be susceptible to hearing loss, such as:
Missing out on certain words while talking to someone
Difficulty following conversations in a loud environment
Increasing TV or phone volume
Difficulty following group conversation
Speaks louder than usual mostly
Ear pain or aural fullness
Asking others to repeat information
Hearing sounds inside the ear
Lip reading to understand the speaker better
If you have any of these symptoms, please get your hearing checked! An audiologist will assess your hearing levels and determine the degree and type of hearing loss. It will be followed by prescribing a management plan to ensure your communication needs are met. To get more information on this, have a consultation with one of the
professionals NOW
