Children detect hearing loss in time

Hearing loss is hearing loss, which can develop to total deafness. This can be caused by several reasons and all ages, even from birth. Infant hearing loss is one of the main reasons for child otolaryngologist, because treatment should begin as soon as possible to facilitate patient communication and language.

Decreased hearing is an especially important during childhood problem, as the social and intellectual development of a child depends largely on the proper functioning of the ear.

Currently 1 out of every 100 newborns has hearing loss, being severe in 1 in 750 cases. In addition, approximately 40% of children occurs before age 5 episodes of otitis media with effusion or mucus in the middle ear, which lasts for more than 3 months and becomes a frequent cause of speech delay and school failure.

The importance of treatment of childhood hearing loss to develop children has led to the creation of the Children 's Hearing loss Unit, focused on early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Symptoms of hearing loss how to know if a child hears well?

Parents play a crucial role in detecting symptoms of childhood hearing loss. At every age there are some warning signs that make one suspect that there is a hearing problem:

0 to 1 year

• The child remains too quiet
• Do not turn your head when you call or to loud sounds
• No beeps articulated as letters or syllable

From 1 to 2 years

• He has not yet begun to talk
• It does not understand simple commands
• He does not recognize his name when they call or speak about it

From 3 to 4 years

• Frecuentamente answers "what?" because they do not listen well when spoken
• It is not able to create sentences of 3 or more words with ease
• Has trouble explaining what happens

In general

• Suffering colds and ear infections often
• It presents nighttime snoring
• Breathing with open mouth
• It introvert, distracted or aggressive because it costs communicate
• Delay in school learning

Early diagnosis of childhood deafness

A correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment time, have enormous benefits in the development of the patient, who can understand the language and communicate more easily. Given the importance of early diagnosis in childhood deafness, children Otolaryngologists specialists, Speech therapists, Pediatricians and Psychologists, recommend periodic reviews and hearing loss screening programs in maternity hospitals.

Child Units Audiology better prepared opt for neonatal screening program for early diagnosis.

In cases where the child does not exceed hearing screening, or in those where it is suspected that it may present hearing loss, the team of child otorhinolaryngology should provide all means possible diagnoses in order to determine the type of hearing loss and the degree to present, in the most accurate and objective as possible.

Diagnostic procedures should not be left for later, as a child with deafness or hearing loss needs to start speech therapy rehabilitation and adaptation of hearing if possible at 6 months old implants.

Evoked Potentials Auditory Steady State

The Hearing Potential Brainstem (ABR) is a system of diagnosis of hearing loss with limitations, since they only provide information on acute noise (from 2000 to 4000 Hz), unable to provide accurate information on hearing situation of the patient in other sound frequencies.

Evoked Potentials Auditory Steady State (ASSR) for diagnostic audiological allow a diagnosis more objective and accurate at all frequencies of the audiogram, not only in acute.

Consultation Dr Otolaryngology. J. Coromina the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona created the Children's Audiology Unit, where this technique is done, especially in children 3 months to 5 years, as they usually are patients in whom it is more difficult to establish a reliable audiometry.

For a complete and reliable diagnosis and begin rehabilitation as soon as possible, complete audiological studies are conducted in children with suspected hearing loss, based on:

• Otoacoustic Emissions
• Evoked Potentials Auditory Brainstem (ABR)
• Steady State potentials (ASSR)
• Children audiometry (Peep-show and Suzuki)

In this example of a ASSR in a child with sensorineural hearing loss Severa can be audiometric curve at all frequencies (250 Hz to 4000 Hz.) The information provided by this test can fit hearing aids more effectively and get them maximum performance .

Meanwhile, the same child PEATC only provide information 2000-4000 Hz., Without knowing the hearing in the other frequencies.