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[C578]Child With Hearing Loss

by Gemma-leigh Garner, Gem

As your parents age you know that in time things are going to change. They are not energetic as they were when you were a kid. Age begins to take a toll on your parents and you know that in time the same will happen to you. However, in the meantime your main focus is the condition your parents are in. Your usual conversations are different from before. They read your lips as you speak or move closer to you and tilt their head in a way so the ear that can hear well faces you. Occasionally, they have a look of confusion when you are speaking to them at a distance. They try not to make it look obvious. However, based on the body language or change in daily routines you have come to notice signs that your parents are having difficulty hearing. It is too soon to suspect the worst, but it is not too soon to believe that your parents may be facing hearing loss.

They start to show signs of denial because they fear to admit that they a problem. They do not wish to face the questions nor are you comfortable asking them or making suggestions. You would not know where to start. As an adult you can identify with the reason for the avoidance and denial. They have reached an older age; they feel the loss of their youth. They begin to question if their life will be normal again? Where the time gone? Are they really that old? Is this considered a disability?

If there is a change in their behavior, if you notice any signs or symptoms, then do the research. There are quite a few types of hearing loss and several reasons for hearing loss. It can be a result from a head injury, long exposure to a loud work environment, an ear infection, frequently listening to loud music or it can be genetic. It could be temporary hearing loss or permanent.

Hearing loss can affect a person in more ways than one. It is difficult to be in a doctor's office and hear them say that you need a hearing aid, but it is especially hard if your parents are unable to hear what the doctor is saying. Your best alternative is to sit them down and discuss their options. Talk to your parents about the importance of seeing an Audiologist to know the type of hearing loss they are facing. If they show a sign of stubbornness, provide them with the research as proof of the importance of this matter. Help them by attending the consultations with their doctor. If there is a concern over finances, talk to your doctor about alternatives. If you are unsure about something, do not hesitate to ask. Now it is your turn to do the same for what your parents have done for you.

…Sounds unbelievable? Believe it. Moreover, even if the hearing loss is not profound or severe, the impairment in children can have a drastic affect on their growth and education.

Some children who have hearing problems are mistakenly considered as downright stubborn, defiant and suffering from learning disabilities. Despite the fact that hospitals screen newborns for hearing loss, some cases still slip through the loopholes. Even the parents are not able to recognize the loss until the other related problems surface in the child. The situation is certainly unfortunate.

Fortunately however, for both children and parents, hearing aids are available in the market. In fact there are many advanced and sophisticated children hearing aids available in the market depending on the age, development and hearing loss of the children. But before you tend to run towards the market right away, you need to take care of many things. Firstly, you need to get your child diagnosed by an audiologist. This person can appropriately and adequately determine the level of hearing impairment in your child. Following this, he will offer viable aids and solutions to help out your baby.

When you visit an audiologist, don't be surprised to see a baby as young as a week old wearing a hearing aid. Hearing impairments in children of any age are possible and so are their solutions.

There are various kinds of formats and models available as children hearing aids. Some of these models include behind the ear, programmable, digital, in the ear and analog hearing aids. Each type of model offers certain benefits and features. Behind the ear or BTE aids are considered to be highly appropriate for children experiencing mild to profound hearing losses. The reason that they are recommended for children is because of their durability and their easy connectivity to FM systems and other assistive listening devices for comprehensive classroom usage.

In the ear aids or ITE are generally recommended for children around the age of thirteen years. These hearing aids tend to get fit in the concha, which is commonly known as the outer ear. These are beneficial for children suffering from mild to severe hearing losses.

The programmable hearing aids are the recent additions to the catalogue of children hearing aids. These aids are made up of such a circuitry that allows changes according to the depreciation or enhancement of the hearing loss. Moreover, these allow maximum flexibility to the audiologist to develop the best possible hearing aid.

Parents who have brought hearing aids for their children have praised the brilliant results following their usage and application. Some parents even compliment that before availing the child hearing aid, the child was a crabby and unresponsive individual. And when the children started using the hearing aid, they behaved much more smartly and attentively. In fact some cases have also revealed that the children became more social and confident in their capabilities after using these devices.

Thus, child hearing aids have really proven to be valuable friends to children suffering from hearing loss and feeling different and isolated from their peers. The hearing aids have opened great doors to these children by providing them the opportunity to hear and enjoy the sounds around them and live their life, just like other children.

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Both Gemma-leigh Garner & Jay Morganson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Gemma-leigh Garner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hearing Aids, Disease & illness and Pets. Gemma-Leigh Garner is a freelance direct response copywriter and blogger that writes on many different health subjects such as