The solution to relief of fear your toddler may have hearing loss can be alleviated with a trip to a hearing center.
Have you begun to believe your toddler may not be hearing well? Have you considered an evaluation at a hearing center but you're fearful of what may be found? You're not alone as many people have most likely felt this way.
We've all heard how important the first years of a child's life are. The ability to hear well is a crucial part of a child's cognitive,
emotional and social development. Auditory skills will enable him to form language and engage in the world around him.
Perhaps you've begun to notice little things as when the child seems to ignore you when you speak to him or there's no language development as he grows.
If your fears have begun to take over your thoughts, there's some good news. Even if there is some sort of damage or genetic issue with your child's auditory sense, if caught early, most hearing issues can be treated. The first thing you need to do is take your toddler to a hearing center for evaluation.
Some common reasons for loss of hearing:
A premature birth.
Medication side effects.
Genetics.
Birth complications.
Ear infections.
There are other reasons but these are the main culprits which can wreak havoc with a child's auditory sense.
It's vital your child is tested on a regular basis. Most hospitals nowadays are required to test newborns before they leave the hospital. Even after this, it's best to schedule appointments at a hearing center at certain intervals of their early life.
Even if your child seems to have normal hearing, they should be regularly evaluated. The best times to do this is at these ages: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18, and any other time if there's an issue.
As your toddler grows, watch for these common signs of hearing loss:
Speech is limited, poor or non-existent.
Inattentiveness.
A struggle to learn new things.
Increased TV volume.
Failure to respond when spoken to or answers the wrong way.
When you take your toddler to a hearing center, a specialist known as a pediatric audiologist will test him by the use of several methods. The methods will depend on the child's health, development and age.
The audiologist will watch for a simple turn of the head when the child is spoken to or a noticeable movement when he is startled. These and other administered tests using tones and sounds will help determine if there may be a problem.
All of these tests have been designed to determine at what level your child is hearing. Then, from the results, a treatment can be prescribed.
The most important thing you can do to help your child hear the best way possible, is to take them to a hearing center for evaluation. This step will give them a head start on life which will benefit them all of their life.
