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From an early age, a baby starts to adapt to its surroundings with the help of the core senses. However, if the baby is faced with difficulties in any of these areas, its development can substantially hurt. Therefore, certain measures should be taken at the earliest time possible. Facing problems in hearing is one of those problems. An infant can develop hearing loss and other hearing problems from a very early age. For this condition, pediatric hearing aid devices can; even the baby is not aware of what normal hearing is. So, there are certain challenges that parents face and require to overcome. In the following article, we are going to talk about those challenges and how to resolve them.
Causes of Hearing Loss in Babies
As we stated earlier, a baby can develop hearing loss symptoms from a very early age. It can either be caused at birth, or the problems can build up when a child is a few years old. The common causes of a child can develop hearing loss are:
- Birth defects that caused harm in the ear canal or middle ear
- Building up of earwax
- Building up of fluids behind the eardrum
- Foreign objects stuck in the ear
- Scars caused by infections in the eardrum.
However, it’s hard to put a finger to which baby can develop a hearing problem. There could be some signs that the parents should keep an eye on and check their babies. The signs being:
- Family history of hearing loss
- Low birth weight
There are several other factors that can induce hearing loss in babies. Like;
- Exposure to certain toxic substances while in the womb or after birth
- Genetic disorders
- Infections passed by the mother
- Inner ear structure complications
- Building up of tumors
Detecting the Problem
As mentioned earlier, detecting hearing loss in infants may possess a challenge. However, there may be some signs that the infant is having hearing problems. The common signs may include:
- Not responding to loud sounds
- Older infants not responding to familiar voices
- Having speech problems
- Less curiosity to noises
Sadly, most children do not get diagnosed with hearing loss till they are enrolled in school, even if they were born with this difficulty. Lack of attention, difficulty catching up with the classes may also be crucial signs of hearing loss.
Pediatric Hearing Aids
Pediatric hearing aids are a kind of device that helps children to cope up with their hearing disabilities. They are specially designed for the children to help them hear effectively while ensuring maximum comfort. They mostly come in with behind-the-ear hearing aid style, and unlike adult hearing aids, the earmolds come in different colors. Most pediatric hearing aids may come with a signal light that helps to indicate if the hearing aid is on or off. The earmolds are made of soft materials, and the quality is maintained closely. Also, the pediatric hearing aids are manufactured with delicate materials, so they don’t harm the skin of the baby and do not initiate an allergic reaction. As the child grows, the earmold can be remade to fit the ear. One may need to get several new earmolds for the first few years,
How Can Pediatric Hearing Aid Help?
Early diagnosis of hearing loss can be highly beneficial in the long run. So, get your child tested at the earliest possible time whenever you detect a potential problem. It will help your child’s development significantly. Some of the important factors are described below.
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- Speech recognition – Hearing loss can cause severe problems for children in recognizing and using language. When they are able to hear speeches clearly, they can grasp the tone and essence of the language fully. It will help them significantly to learn and use language, even the complex ones, effectively.
- Social development – A person’s social development significantly hinders when they face difficulties in the conversation. A hearing aid can decrease this gap and make him socially active. That way, the child can participate in various social activities and boost its confidence effectively.
- School activities – A child’s learning ability can significantly increase when it has a sound hearing ability. Many children face such problems in class. The microphone is worn by the teacher, and the receiver is attached to the hearing aid to help the child hear better. It also helps the child to receive the best sound without the interference of the classroom noise.
Hearing Professional’s Aid
A hearing professional or an audiologist is the best friend that your child needs if he has a hearing difficulty. The audiologist can understand the severity of the problem and can make required adjustments to the hearing aid. Moreover, they recommend the best devices according to your child’s need and can be a part of your child’s upcoming life journey.
Hearing loss is always a heartbreaking incident. However, when it occurs in a child, the challenge is greater. However, modern technology has a way to ease the life of a hearing-impaired child. With an early diagnosis, your child can easily blend in with the crowd and have the best life that it deserves.
