Many hearing problems go undetected in children, leaving them with developmental challenges that could have been avoided.  The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner the child can get help ie a hearing aid and the greater the potential for the development of language and speech. 

Research indicates that hearing loss among children is a worldwide issue, with around twelve per cent of children in developed countries having some level of hearing loss.   Research also shows that one in three children has hearing loss of a degree that makes learning difficult. 

Children spend nearly half of the day in some form of listening activity, so even mild hearing loss can affect how a child learns and can impact their academic performance.  It is said that a third of children with hearing loss will fail a grade.  Despite this, a hearing test is not automatically conducted when children have developmental or attention issues. 

Teachers are quick to label children as disruptive, unable to sit still and listen and easily distracted, but often these children have a degree of hearing loss.  Studies are showing that hearing loss is a contributing factor where children are displaying academic or behaviour problems.  Similar issues of impulsiveness, distractibility, concentration and attention span are associated with the most commonly diagnosed behavioural childhood disorder, namely ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 

It is possible that children are diagnosed with ADHD when in fact, the problem is an undiagnosed hearing loss.

Regular screening for hearing loss is the first and most important step.  We take our children to the dentist regularly for a check-up, why not for a hearing test? . 

A hearing screening will test for hearing loss, even at birth.  The causes of hearing loss are many and varied – eg in newborns it could be premature birth or complications at birth, infections during pregnancy or medications and in older children, it could be from trauma or head injury, recurring ear infections, holes in the ear drum, noise-induced hearing loss etc.  However, in around 50% of cases, the causes are not established. 

So what should – and could – one do if a child has been found to have hearing loss ?  Hearing aids are the most common non-medical treatment.  The most common type of hearing loss involves dysfunction of the outer hair cell – and this can be overcome by hearing aids which amplify sound. 

Hearing aid technology has improved considerably in recent times, and there are a number of products on the market to suit different needs and budgets.  Hearing aids are basically like a miniature public address system and the easiest way to categorise them is by the place on the body where they are worn, ie :

·         Behind the ear or BTE

·         ITE or in the ear

·         In-the-canal (ITC)

·         Completely-in-the-canal (CITC)

If you have children, best you arrange a Perth hearing test at the earliest opportunity and talk to your local professional hearing loss specialist for any information about hearing loss or hearing aids.  If a diagnosis is made early, the better the chance of successful intervention.