Does your child have a hearing impairment? (Childhood Hearing Loss) Don't worry, let's be aware of this.

As a mother or father, how much do you talk to your child? Do you laugh out loud? Do you try to get their attention by making a toy sound? But have you ever noticed that sometimes, even when you talk or hear a sound, your child does not respond to it? It is normal to feel a little scared when you see something like this. We think that vision is our most important sense. But in fact, hearing loss at an early age can have a much greater impact on a child's speech and language development . But the good news is that with today's advanced technology, we can identify hearing impairments even in a small baby at birth, treat them, and secure the child's future.

Why do young children go deaf? What are the reasons?

Simply put, our ear is divided into three parts. They are the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Hearing impairments can be divided into two main types depending on the problems that occur in these parts.

1. Conductive Hearing Loss: This is when something in the outer or middle ear doesn't properly transmit sound waves to the brain. It's like there's a blockage in the road. This condition can often be treated and cured.

2. Neural Hearing Loss: The problem here is in the inner ear. It involves damage to the very sensitive nerves that detect sound (auditory nerves). This is a more complex condition and can be quite difficult to treat.

There can be many reasons for hearing loss in children. Some of them can be genetic conditions that are passed down from generation to generation . Also, some infections that the mother gets during pregnancy, ear infections in the child (ear infections), and head injuries can also affect it. However, sometimes, a specific cause may not be found .

Another, less-considered, but very serious threat is loud noise . A 2001 study found that more than 5 million American children have varying degrees of hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise. We tend to think of workplace noise as the only cause of hearing loss. But how many other noises can harm children's ears? Think of loud music (especially from headphones) , motorcycles, and the noise of various machines—all of these can damage a child's sensitive ears.

How can this situation be identified in advance?

The most important thing in this case is early diagnosis . The first few years of a child's language development are very valuable. That time should not be wasted.

As parents, you can keep an eye on this. Be aware of the following signs:

• Doesn't the baby jump or startle at a sudden loud noise ?
• When your mother speaks from a distance , don't you turn your head to look in the direction where the voice came from?
• Are you not trying to make small sounds and talk in a way that is appropriate for the child's age ? (e.g. not doing so at the age of speaking)

If you see something like this, it is very important to immediately consult your pediatrician or ENT surgeon, rather than just assuming that "it will get better with time." With today's technology, hearing tests can be performed even on a baby a few hours after birth.

What treatments and devices are available for this?

The treatment method depends on the cause of the hearing loss. The two types we discussed earlier are treated differently. To understand this, see the table below.

New ways to improve your child's speech and learning

In addition to therapy, there are now new technologies that can help children with hearing impairments learn well even in a regular classroom. Because every child learns language by hearing it in the environment around them.

• Personal FM system: This is a very interesting device. Imagine, the teacher in the classroom speaks into a microphone, and the sound goes directly to the hearing aid in the child's ear without any interference. Then the child can focus fully on the lesson without being disturbed by the sounds of other children in the classroom or outside noises.
• Computer-based programs: Even 3D computer-based tutors like 'Baldi' have been created. This computer character teaches words to the child by moving his mouth, teeth, and even his tongue precisely. Unlike parents or teachers, these computer programs can repeat the same word hundreds of times without getting bored.

All of this shows that even if a child has a hearing impairment, the technology and knowledge needed to learn, speak, and live happily like everyone else without it becoming a hindrance to their life is available in today's world. The most important thing is that we, as parents, are aware of it and take the right steps at the right time.

Children's hearing, hearing impairment, hearing aids, hearing loss, cochlear implant, children's ears, pediatrics