Hearing loss doesn’t just happen when people age! Learn more here about childhood hearing loss.
When people think of hearing loss, they usually associate it with the elderly. It seems that it occurs only when people get older. The exception would be young adults who listened to music too loudly on their headphones or earbuds. Even so, the idea that hearing loss only happens to the elderly is far from true; it can even start from birth. Below is a look at childhood hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Loss
Childhood hearing loss can come about through different means, and one generally understands these through four categories: conductive, sensorineural, mixed, and auditory processing disorder. Conductive hearing loss can happen to anyone of any age; it refers to a hearing issue caused by something in the outer or middle ear, like a foreign object, earwax, or inflammation from an ear infection.
Sensorineural hearing loss is hearing damage in the inner ear and is generally permanent. Disease, head trauma, a loud noise, or genetics could cause this kind. It can happen to anyone of any age in one or both ears.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of the first two kinds, but an auditory processing disorder has its root cause in the central nervous system.
Hearing Loss in Infants
Infants will show deafness in different ways, depending on their stage of development. Overall, a child might be unresponsive to loud sounds, familiar sounds, and words. They may have delayed speech development also and not vocalize to gain attention. Doctors today usually screen babies for hearing loss and recently have found around 15% of children to develop at least mild hearing loss in one or both ears. It is vital to address childhood hearing loss in this formative time.
Hearing Loss in Children
Hearing loss in children can appear through a child’s unresponsiveness to speech and sound and frequently asking what someone just said. He may also have unusual speech and have trouble following commands at home and school. Hearing loss is complex, however, and can involve either pitch, volume, or both. As mentioned above, there are various reasons why a child might develop a hearing issue, but thankfully, an audiologist can accurately discover the cause and prescribe a solution for it.
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service to the surrounding areas of Ellicott City, Catonsville, Columbia. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that are personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
You can call us today to schedule a FREE Hearing Protection Consultation at 410-698-6594! For more blog posts, news, and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.