On account of young children or newborn baby as we know they are unable to tell us either they are having a normal hearing or not. Parents can notice that the child has a hearing impairment when calling their names but no reaction back. Which this case can disrupt their opportunities for language development and speaking skills t. Accordingly, from many authentic statistics sources, these are information that claimed on this problem within children …
2. In Thailand, the rate of hearing loss in newborns at Ramathibodi Hospital was overall 1.7 in 1,000 people.
3. Infection of the ear canal. This is the most common disease in children up to the age of 11 which accurately found almost 100%
4. Children with hearing impairment who are diagnosed and treated before the age of 6 months can be able to develop more skills of language learning than children who their diagnoses are delayed.
What is hearing impairment
A hearing is an important component of speech. People with hearing impairment may have tinnitus deafness. Being unable to hear or unclear hearing which may know as deafness. In children, if there is a hearing disorder, then there is a delay of language development. Including an impact in their ability to learn and memorize things or some behaviors and emotions in social development as well.
Inspection
At the present time, technology is very advanced makes it possible to provide a quick and safe procedure to assess the hearing loss in newborns. The results are moderately reliable and testing is widely available to help from an early stage of with a suitable treatment. However, these are some of advanced equiments during inspection
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) measurement of echo derives from hair cell in an inner ear cell. It is an examination for function of the nerve endings in the inner ear.The test is performed by inserting the sound into the ear while the child is not moving including measuring the sound which produced by the inner ear. The machine records can response automatically. The procedure is simple ,time saving and painless. The result is provided after inspection which accurately more than 95%.
- If the results show as “pass” indicates that the middle ears and nerve hearing are normal.
- If the results show as “REFER” indicates that there may be a condition in which the child has been obstructed such as in the ear canal due to amniotic fluid, earwax which impedes the measurement of echo from the inner ear. Or caused by the middle ear or the inner ear dysfunction. If so, repeat to confirm the results. If tests 2 and 3 are still show the result as (REFER), additional tests will be required to further diagnose.
The result as “PASS” from hearing test of both ears indicates working condition in the inner ear at the moment. However, children may have hearing disorders which occur after due to a variety of causes. For some infections such as measle, mumps , meningitis and toxic drugs receiving. Including listening to lound music ,middle ear inflammation and hearing loss disease from hereditary etc.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a diagnostic test for hearing disorders in young children.This is done by attaching an electrode to measure the electrical energy generated in the innerear ligaments. When the sound is sent to the ear. Children have to sleep deeply it takes half an hour. The result is accurate more than 98%
When is inspection
Parents should take their child to see a specialist of ear nose and throat immediately after having a suspicion of hearing loss or delayed language development. However, the risks of hearing problems are as follows.
– There is a family history of having deafness.
– The child has facial disorders, including the ear and the auditory canal.
– A mother has a history of having rubella, syphilis and chickenpox fever during pregnancy.
– Mother who does alcohol drinking, smoking, drug or volatile during pregnancy
– Children who are sick and have to be treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 48 hours.
– The child who has a history of major illness after birth which takes to 28 days, such as jaundice or icterus, requires a blood transfusion. Or in need of putting on a respirator, etc.
– The child who has a history of head injury.
– Children with a history of infection that can cause deafness, for example, measles, mumps, meningitis, and encephalitis.
– The children who use to have an acute otitis media. And ears water imbalance for at least 3 months straight.
– Children aged less than 6 months who do not react to a noisy sound and do not stop crying when somebody is soothing, not playing their salivas, or including making a sound.
– Children between the ages of 6 months to 1 year but still not respond to their names calling includes an order.
– Children between the ages of 1-2 which are still not able to say a meaningful word. Including speaking less than 20 words and not responding to the sound.