The audiologist’s role is crucial in the early detection of hearing problems that can affect a child’s development of speech, language, and social skills. A pediatric audiologist often collaborates with other specialists, such as speech therapists, ENT specialists, and occupational therapists, to provide comprehensive health care.
How can a visit to a pediatric audiologist help?
A pediatric audiologist performs specialized tests to diagnose and treat hearing disorders in children. Here are some examples:
Audiologist – diagnosis of hearing disorders
An audiologist performs detailed hearing tests, such as:
- verbal audiometry: The patient puts on headphones with words. The patient repeats them.
- Tonal audiometry: determines the hearing threshold in the bone and air pathways. It helps detect auditory hypersensitivity or hearing deficits, among other things.
- Tympanometry: a study of pressure in the middle ear,
- Acoustic otoemission (OAE) testing: hearing screening.
What symptoms does a hypertrophied 3rd amygdala give in a child?
Hearing tests allow assessment of a child’s hearing status and early detection of possible problems, and are often ordered by audiologists for diagnosis. Tests are ordered for hearing disorders, depending on the symptoms.
Monitoring progress
Regular visits to a pediatric audiologist are key to monitoring a child’s hearing status, especially in cases where the child wears hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.
Hearing aid fitting
If hearing loss is diagnosed, a pediatric audiologist selects the appropriate hearing aids and instructs parents and children how to use them.
Support for families
A pediatric audiologist helps parents understand the diagnosis, provides information on next steps and available forms of support, including rehabilitation programs.
When is it a good idea to see a pediatric audiologist?
It is essential to observe the child’s development and respond to any abnormalities. This is especially important in young children who are not yet able to communicate their complaints on their own. Here are some situations in which it is worth consulting a pediatric audiologist:
- Speech development delays
If a child has difficulty speaking or his speech development seems delayed, this could be a signal of hearing problems.
- Not responding to sounds
If you notice that your child is unresponsive to sounds or has difficulty recognizing sound sources, it is worth consulting an audiologist.
- Concentration and learning problems
Hearing disorders can affect a child’s ability to concentrate, which can lead to learning problems. A pediatric audiologist can help determine if hearing is the cause of the difficulty.
- Ear infections
Children who frequently suffer from ear infections (otitis, including otitis media, recurrent otitis) are at risk of developing hearing problems. A pediatric audiologist can assess whether infections have affected a child’s ability to hear.
- Genetic load
If there is a family history of hearing impairment, it is a good idea to prophylactically check your child’s hearing and be alert to signs of hearing disorders in your child.
- Past history of meningitis
A permanent complication after meningitis sometimes is hearing impairment or deafness. In this case, an audiological examination is necessary.
Early detection of hearing problems is crucial to a child’s development. With timely intervention, it is possible to prevent negative consequences related to speech delay, learning problems and social difficulties, and consequently stress and even mental problems. If hearing loss is detected too late, the child will not learn to speak in time for it. As a result, speech defects may stay forever.
