Parents spend a lot of time worrying about their kids. If you’re a parent, you probably watched your kid breathe, taught them how to ride a bike in one of Grapevine’s parks and put a Band-Aid on the cuts they got when they fell off that bike.
Another thing many parents worry about is their child’s hearing. Let’s take a look at some early signs of hearing loss and your child’s treatment options if they develop it to help ease your concerns.
Signs of Pediatric Hearing Loss
Signs of hearing loss will vary by age. Infants and toddlers may exhibit the following:
- Not reacting to voices or loud noises
- Not trying to find the source of sounds
- Not vocalizing (babbling, etc.)
- Inconsistently paying attention when spoken to
As they get older, you may start to notice:
- Delayed speech development
- Trouble understanding speech in noisy places
- Difficulty following directions
- Struggling academically or socially
- Excessive tiredness at the end of the day
- Frequently raising the volume on the TV or radio
Treatment Options for Hearing Loss
There are two main treatment options for pediatric hearing loss:
- Hearing aids. Hearing aids are small devices worn in or behind the ear. They pick up, amplify and deliver speech directly into your child’s ears to help them talk to and understand others.
- Cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are for people with profound inner ear hearing loss. The implant has an external part that sits behind the ear and an internal part that is surgically placed under the skin. Hearing specialists recommend cochlear implants for patients who have not found sufficient relief from hearing aids.
Your child’s hearing specialist will conduct a hearing test and walk you through the best treatment options to address hearing loss early on.
Why Is Early Treatment So Important?
Children rely on their hearing to learn communication skills. Untreated hearing loss can hold them back academically and make it more challenging to build strong friendships. Depending on how long they’ve lived with untreated hearing loss, their specialist may recommend auditory training to rebuild the skills necessary for understanding speech.
We’re here to help your child thrive. Schedule an appointment with one of our specialists at Heard It Through The Grapevine Audiology, PC for a hearing test and treatment consultation.