Does my child have a hearing loss?
Although most newborns in the United States receive a hearing screening before discharge from the hospital, hearing loss can occur at any time, and it may not be evident immediately. Severe or profound hearing loss may be obvious because the child may not respond to sound. But noticing milder forms of hearing loss—including hearing loss in only one ear—can be more difficult. That is why regular hearing evaluations as children grow and mature are so important.
Because children learn to speak by listening, children with unidentified hearing loss often have trouble learning to speak, and they experience delays in their language and speech development. For this reason, it is important to pay careful attention to causes of hearing loss in children, and how quickly and well your child is learning to speak and understand language when compared to other children of the same age. If something doesn’t seem right, ask your doctor.
A Lot Can Be Done to Help Children with Hearing Loss!
We know so much more today about helping children with hearing loss than we ever did, and there are more resources available than ever before. The key is to get the earliest diagnosis and intervention possible. This helps ensure that your child develops strong speech and language skills without any unnecessary developmental delays.
Early diagnosis and intervention give your child the best chance for strong academic achievement and positive social and emotional development. Keep in mind: Parents usually suspect a hearing loss before the doctor does. So, advocate for your child. Take them to a hearing healthcare professional to have their hearing tested. Pediatric hearing loss treatment can be an important tool in helping your child enjoy an active and fulfilling life.
Hearing Testing Services At BHSC
The pediatric specialists at BHSC have years of training and experience working with all ages of children, from very young babies through all the stages of childhood and adolescence.
An ABR, or Auditory Brainstem Response (link to our Pediatric Audiology page ABR section) , is a non-invasive way to test those who are too young to give a response to sounds or children who are unable to give a response for a variety of reasons.
Audiologists offer a variety of other procedures such as play audiometry and visually-reinforced audiometry which allow behavioral responses that are assessed and interpreted. When a child is old enough, they can use a traditional hand raise response to tones presented via headphones within a sound-treated room.
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Let Us Help
At Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, we are dedicated to helping you overcome any hearing, speech, communication, or educational need you have. Call us to speak with a Specialist or Write Us A Message.
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