What Is Hearing Loss In Children?

Many children suffer from the unfortunate circumstance of pediatric hearing loss, and this condition can have many causes of a permanent or temporary nature. These are some of the signs of hearing issues and some information about what you can do for your child if he or she experiences it. 

What Is Hearing Loss in Children?

Hearing loss is any condition that affects your child’s ability to hear things at a normal level. It describes an array of issues that arise in one of the parts of the ear. Doctors can determine the correct hearing level for a child’s age and tell you what percentage of loss appears. 

What Causes Pediatric Hearing Loss?

Infections, disorders, and glitches in the auditory system can cause your child to suffer hearing loss. Hearing loss in children health issues is common. In mild cases, hearing loss can be due to a buildup of wax and can be resolved by using a removal kit. Some people naturally produce more wax than others do, and that means you’ll have to pay special care when cleaning your child’s ears. 

You will usually notice symptoms that indicate a problem over time, and then you can schedule an appointment with a specialist who can examine your child for a problem. It’s important not to wait if you notice your child exhibiting some of the common symptoms because the doctor may need to prescribe an antibiotic to provide him or her with the appropriate care. 

Common Hearing Loss Symptoms?

One of the first signs of a child’s hearing loss is when a young person doesn’t respond to noises that should usually cause alarm or alert. You might notice that loud noises seem to garner no response. You can easily check your infant’s hearing abilities by clapping loudly or creating another startling sound. Even though your child can’t speak, you will know that he or she didn’t hear the sound because of the failure to respond. 

An older child may have poor speech patterns or respond to everything you say with, "Huh?" That indicates that the information didn’t transfer through the ears and process in the child’s brain appropriately. 

You may also notice that an older child needs to set the television or radio at loud levels to enjoy it. In some cases, it might appear that your child is ignoring you or being defiant when he or she simply never heard what you said. 

It’s imperative that you have your child tested for hearing loss if you notice any of the above symptoms. Even if your little one has passed a previous test, it’s best to go ahead and have the child tested again because a new condition might have emerged.

A specialist can conduct various procedures to pinpoint the problem and help your baby or older child restore hearing functionality. Treatment options may include antibiotics, cleaning, speech therapy, and surgery in some cases. The solution depends on the problem. 

What To Do if Your Child Suffers Hearing Loss? 

You can take the information from above and compare it against any symptoms your young child may be experiencing. A pediatric care provider can check, diagnose, and treat your child with the most effective recovery plan.