Childhood hearing loss is also called congenital hearing loss because the condition is present in a newborn at birth. Many factors cause childhood hearing loss, but diagnosing the problem is not so easy. Congenital hearing loss happens as a result of both genetic and non-genetic factors. The treatments for childhood hearing loss differ from patient to patient, depending on the cause of the condition. Some examples of the common treatments for congenital hearing loss include hearing aids, cochlear implant, and speech therapy.
Common Treatments for Childhood Hearing Loss
1. Hearing Aids
A hearing aid is a device that assists improve the hearing capability of people of all ages, including children. Modern hearing aids are smart and powerful. They can help even children with profound hearing loss to hear clearly again. There are also hearing aids that are developed specifically for children. The special protections and coverings reduce the risk of misplacement or removal of the devices.
2. Cochlear Implants
A cochlear implant is a complex and high-tech tool that is surgically placed inside the ear. The implants kindle the auditory nerve in the inner ear through electrical stimulus. There is also an external part of the cochlear implant. Many manufacturers have developed children-friendly cochlear implants the external component of which can be worn with a soft headband. If hearing aids did not work for your child, you might consider cochlear implants for him/her.
3. Speech Therapy
Most congenital hearing loss patients also experience difficulty with their speech and language skills. When children have difficulty hearing, they fail to learn languages, and their speech is often unclear. To improve the speech and language of children with hearing impairment, the speech therapy can be effective. However, the patient would first need to get hearing aids or cochlear implants, so he or she can easily improve his or her speech and language skills through speech therapy.
4. Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices are modern apparatus developed to help children with hearing loss to improve their listening and learning skills. The device works with the help of an FM system that is simple and works excellently in a classroom atmosphere. The assistive listening device needs to be used in combination with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
The system includes a simple, smart microphone that connects to the hearing aid of the child. When the teacher speaks into the microphone, his or her voice is delivered directly to the patient’s ear, and the background noises are reduced. This helps improve the listening and learning capability of the patient to a greater extent.
