Hearing loss is stressful for anybody. However, it can be even more difficult when it is a child who is trying to hear someone speak and can’t understand it. In this situation, it is important that you get qualified help quickly. If your child says they try to hear something but can’t do it, bring them to their doctor. Their doctor will be able to point you in the right direction for help, generally sending you to a hearing center to get their hearing tested.
If the hearing center tests their hearing and determines your child needs hearing aids, they’ll likely be able to help you find hearing companies near me that make and sell them. If you buy hearing aids near here, that means you have access to that company for any questions you might have. It also means that if the hearing aids break or you need replacements, you have a local connection. This can help you get the new hearing aids quickly, keeping your child from having to go without them for a long period of time.
For many couples, there is nothing more miraculous than conceiving a child. At the same time, however, there is always the potential for birth defects or early childhood defects. Nearly one out of every 1,000 newborns experience significant hearing loss or a cleft palate/lip. These medical issues can plague a child for their whole life if preventative and curative steps are not taken.
The Causes Of And Treatment For Hearing Loss
It is estimated that genes are responsible for 50-60% of congenital abnormalities of the ear that result in hearing loss. Factors like infections during pregnancy in the mother, environmental causes, and complications after birth are responsible for up to 30% of all babies with hearing loss. For some infants the ear canal has failed to form so there is no opening from the outside ear to the hearing bones in what is referred to as aural atresia — in 80% of cases, this congenital abnormality is only present in one ear. In most cases of congenital hearing loss can only be restored by repairing the eardrum, which unfortunately only has an 85-90% success rate. As medicine and technology continue to advance, experts are better able to help children hear their parent’s voices for the first time.
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Repair
There are many causes to blame for a cleft lip/palate from genetics to various viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are around 2,650 babies born with a cleft palate, and 4,440 babies born with a cleft lip every year. If left untreated, children with a cleft lip/palate are at serious risk for developing middle ear fluid and eventually hearing loss. Surgery exists to repair a cleft lip/palate and ought to be done in the first 12 to 18 months of life. Depending on the severity of the defect, additional cosmetic surgery may be recommended. If done early enough, children born with these birth defects may look no different from their peers after surgery.
