Help for Parents of Hearing Impaired Children

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2 to 3 children out of 1,000 in the U.S. are born deaf or hearing impaired. Many of these hearing impaired children are not identified as such until after the age of 2. Any kind of early hearing loss can be a serious problem. That's because it can undermine the foundation of language development, which experts believe is built during the early months and years of life.

But it can be very hard to identify hearing impaired children until obvious signs of speech and developmental delays show up.

If you suspect that your child may have a hearing problem, talk to your pediatrician. Get your child's hearing evaluated as soon as possible. If your child has been diagnosed with a hearing impairment, seek help right away. Experts agree that the earlier hearing impaired children get help, the better their chances of reaching their full learning and developmental potential.

Hearing Impaired Children: What Are the Causes of Hearing Loss?

Hearing impaired children can lose their hearing due to a variety of causes, including:

• Otitis media. This inner ear inflammation occurs often in young children because their ear canals are not fully developed. Fluid builds up behind the eardrum and can become infected. Even if there is no pain or infection, the fluid can impair hearing - at least temporarily. In severe and chronic cases, otitis media can lead to permanent hearing loss.
  
• Congenital factors. Some hearing impaired children are born with hearing problems -- either as a result of genetic factors or because of prenatal or childbirth problems. More than half of all congenital hearing problems in children are due to genetics. Hearing loss can also result when a pregnant woman develops certain conditions such as diabetes or toxemia. Premature birth also raises a child's risk for hearing problems.
  
• Acquired hearing loss. A variety of conditions can trigger hearing problems in young children after birth. They include illnesses such as meningitis, encephalitis, measles, chicken pox, and influenza. A head injury or exposure to very loud noises can also lead to acquired hearing loss.

Recognize the Signs and Symptoms in Hearing Impaired Children

As a parent, you are likely to first notice whether or not your child has a hearing problem. Some early signs and symptoms of hearing loss include:

• Not reacting to loud noises.
• Not responding to your voice.
• Not beginning to use the voice to make simple sounds.

A child with otitis media may also:

• Pull or rub an ear.
• Be constantly irritable for no apparent reason.
• Become listless or inattentive.
• Not understand directions.
• Often ask for the television or radio to be louder.
• Have a fever.

But remember: otitis media may cause no symptoms.

Check with your physician if you have any reason to suspect that your child has hearing problems. For more information on how to detect hearing loss, use the checklist created by the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Hearing Disorders: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/silence.asp.