Here in the United States, hearing problems are not uncommon by any means. After all, hearing problems can impact the lives of just about anyone, with up to three children out of every 1,000 born developing some level of hearing loss very early on in life. For some children, this hearing loss is present even at birth, as babies have their hearing checked before being discharged, something that, since being put into place, has helped to identify many hearing problems from the get go, allowing the parents in question to get their child the treatment that they will need.
For children, hearing loss that is not detected can be particularly detrimental. When children are suffering from hearing loss that is not being treated – or is even known about – they are not likely to be learning as well as they could be, simply due to the fact that they are likely not hearing everything that they should be when in school. This can lead to a number of behavioral problems and even various mental health issues, as it can be hard for children to articulate exactly what is so frustrating about their learning experiences up until this point. Fortunately, hearing tests are becoming more and more common in schools, which are setting aside days to test hearing in all of their students, hoping to identify cases of hearing loss or other such hearing difficulties so that they can be managed better, improving the life of the child in question likely in quite the immense way.
Of course, children are certainly not alone in experiencing hearing loss. If anything, hearing loss is much more prominent in the adult world. After all, it is estimated that up to 15% of the population of those who fall between the ages of 18 and up deal with some type of hearing loss. This means that more than 37 million people are living with such a condition. In many cases, this hearing loss happens with age, as the highest population of people living with some level of hearing loss falls, as you might expect, with the elderly population. Such hearing loss typically comes from hearing damage over time, from loud music to loud noises in the world as we know it. For those who work around such loud noises, hearing damage becomes all the more probably.
Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the negative impact that hearing loss can have. For one thing, hearing aids are incredibly popular, and the hearing aid device is something that has helped many people for many years at this point. A relatively simple device, hearing aids typically consist of only three main parts. You’ll likely see hearing aids that are made up of the microphone, the amplifier, and, of course, the speaker. From lyric hearing aids to other types of hearing aids, there is likely the right hearing aid out here for you, should you ever need one.
Getting your hands on such hearing aids, however, is only possible through working with a doctor, likely a specialist. If your child is suspected of having some form of hearing loss, for instance, you are likely to be put into contact with a pediatric ENT, an ear nose and throat doctor specializing in work with children. Such a professional will help to ensure that your child does not fall through the cracks and is able to get the help that they need. Your child will likely be prescribed one of the hearing aids specifically designed for use in children, but hearing loss in children can also be treated in a number of other ways as well.
The cochlear implant, for instance, is just one of them. The cochlear implant is most ideal for use in kids who are on the younger side, as this will give them all the more time to become accustomed to it and grow with it, making them more likely to use it well into their adult years, should the implantation of this device be a success. In addition to this, teaching children sign language and inviting them into the Deaf community is also of a considerable importance.