Sudden Hearing Loss

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Man with Sudden Hearing Loss

Image source: Foheidsobei.blogspot.com

If you’ve ever watched action or war movies that feature large bombs or quick explosions with a grenade, you’ll likely notice a common theme. The action hero can’t hear much afterward. He looks confused. People shout at him, but he can’t hear them. He’s experienced sudden hearing loss. Quite often, acquired hearing loss progresses slowly. If you frequent rock concerts or work with power tools often, you might notice a stealthy, gradual decline in hearing. But hearing loss can also occur quite abruptly. Sudden hearing loss can affect any age group, including children. However, it’s more common amongst those in their 60’s. Sometimes the condition resolves itself or gets better with treatment, but sometimes it doesn’t.

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How the Healthcare Law Affects Autism Coverage

by Jacky G. Legal Issues
Supreme Court and Healthcare Law

Image source: Thenation.com

Depending on whom you ask and which PR campaign you wish to believe, it’s called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or simply, Obamacare. President Obama signed the healthcare law on March 23, 2010, and it was upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012. The healthcare law was intended to decrease costs and increase the number of insured Americans. Whether you prefer to call the law “Obamacare” or the “Affordable Care Act” is a strong indicator of whether you approve of the law or not. Few healthcare laws have been met with as much controversy as the ACA. Even the autism community appears quite divided. It’s not the purpose of this post to say whether the law is good or bad, but rather to discuss the potential impact of the healthcare law on autism coverage. You can read the full law here.

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Is a Cochlear Implant Right for Your Child?

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Cochlear Implant Diagram

Image source: Examiner.com

Cochlear implants are devices that may help your child hear. If your child is Deaf or has profound hearing loss, consider talking to his doctor about cochlear implants. Sometimes called “bionic ears,” cochlear implants are not a cure for hearing loss. Whereas a hearing aid amplifies sound, a cochlear implant will bypass the damage in the ear to stimulate the auditory nerve directly. The brain can then interpret the signals sent by the nerve as sound. It can take quite an adjustment to learn to use a cochlear implant, but these little electronic devices can help your child develop speech and language at a rate on target for his age group.

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Preventing Acquired Hearing Loss

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Retro Woman with Fingers in Ears

Image source: Mollypiper.com

Hearing loss isn’t always immediately evident at birth. When the condition arises later, it is called acquired hearing loss. Sometimes, the extent of the hearing loss will worsen over time, in which case it is referred to as progressive. Non-progressive hearing loss does not worsen over time.

Our interview this week with Lori Steed Sortino proves that it is indeed possible for a child to have a happy, fulfilled life with hearing loss. However, it can also be challenging. Amongst other issues, hearing loss can greatly affect the development of speech and language. Not all types of hearing loss can be prevented. But you can reduce the risk of acquired hearing loss by controlling the level of noise in your child’s environment, treating ear infections promptly, and reducing the risk of head injuries. See below for additional causes of acquired hearing loss.

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New York Early Intervention Program

by Jacky G. State Resources
NYS Map by County

Image source: Health.ny.gov

Early intervention services are designed to assist children with developmental delays or disabilities, from birth to 3 years old. Early intervention is federally mandated, but it is administered through the state governments. In New York, the Bureau of Early Intervention is part of the NYS Department of Health. It administers the New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP). EIP was established in Article 25 of the NY Public Health Law. You can read the regulations in their entirety here.

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