Protect Your Child’s Hearing – “Listen to Your Buds”

Protect Your Child’s Hearing – “Listen to Your Buds”

by Courtenay M. Hearing Loss News Parents' Corner

Listen to your Buds

In celebration of  Better Hearing and Speech Month, we’d like to shine a light on the ASHA campaign called “Listen to Your Buds”.  This public education campaign is aimed at preventing noise-induced hearing loss by helping parents teach their children how to use personal audio technology in a safe manner.  These safe habits include turning down the volume on iPod and MP3 music players, and taking breaks when listening to personal audio technology to help avoid damaging effects that may cause hearing loss.

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Hearing Loss in Children & Speech Intelligibility: Is Integration Right for Your Child?

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss News
Hearing Loss in Children - Causes of Hearing Loss

Image source: Wwhearing.org

Hearing loss in children necessitates close collaboration with teachers, the special education team, and speech therapists. If you’ve been dealing with speech therapy and special education for a while now, you’re probably already familiar with the concept of integration in the classroom. Some children might head to the special resources room for speech therapy and similar sessions during the school day, for example, while others remain in the classroom for speech therapy in that setting. In the latter case, a speech therapist or aide will work with the child as he participates in classroom activities, and the speech therapist will also work closely with the teacher. Still other children are taught exclusively in special needs groups or schools. The important thing to remember with all these different models is that there is no “one size fits all” solution. Your child is unique and has his own unique needs. So it’s critically important to work with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine what suits your child best.

A recent study examined hearing loss in children. These kids were integrated into a typical classroom. The researchers who were involved in the study wanted to determine the effects of hearing loss in children on social competence and inclusion.

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Study Shows Timing is Critical for Cochlear Implants

by Jacky G. News
Child with Hearing Loss

Image source: Knoxnews.com

A cochlear implant is a device that bypasses damaged hair cells in the inner ear to stimulate the auditory nerve. This allows a Deaf person to perceive sound. It is not a cure for hearing loss. While a person can receive a cochlear implant at any age, experts have long agreed that if a parent decides to have a child undergo the surgery, the sooner the better. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) have also found that children who undergo the surgery sooner rather than later demonstrate the most positive benefits.

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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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