Parent Article

Many of us take our good hearing for granted.  But the fact is, good hearing is a precious commodity, and our ears deserve a little respect.  We need to hear well to enjoy the sounds of nature, to listen to our favorite TV show or sing along with our favorite tunes, and to hear a cry for help.   We need to hear well in order to communicate, to learn, and to socialize.  And we need to hear well to stay safe.

Good hearing plays a critical role in a child’s speech and language development, academic success, peer relationships, and emotional well-being.  Even minor fluctuations in hearing or temporary intermittent hearing loss caused by repeated ear infections has been found to lead to academic delays, speech and language problems, auditory processing deficits, and/or learning disability.  Children with hearing impairment may become socially withdrawn or isolated, display low self-esteem, or throw temper tantrums out of frustration.

Hearing loss and middle ear disease are among the most prevalent chronic health problems in the pediatric population.  Not only can ear infections be painful and result in temporary or fluctuating hearing loss, but in some cases of chronic infection, hearing loss can be permanent.  While some children display obvious symptoms of an ear infection (e.g., unresponsiveness, fever, irritability, crying), others are asymptomatic and frequently go undetected.  

Because the ear, the nose, and the throat are all connected, illnesses such as upper respiratory infections (URI) and strepthroat can easily lead to ear infections.  In addition to URI causes, ear infections can occur in swimmers as a result of bacteria in the swim water.  Fortunately, this can be easily avoided by keeping the ears dry with swim plugs that provide a water-tight seal, preventing water from entering the ear canals.  (See sidebar.)

A simple, painless test to detect hearing and middle ear problems can help to identify problems early.  Proper intervention can then be implemented to remediate the problem without causing further hearing-related delays.  Since a child’s hearing can change or fluctuate, it is recommended that children in school have their hearing tested at least once a year.  Some children may require more frequent testing, depending on their medical and family history.

Beyond the yearly hearing screening, parents need to remain aware of their children’s behaviors and educational progress.  If parents observe any of the following “red flag” signs or behaviors in their children, they should consult an audiologist to rule out hearing-related difficulties. 

• Pulling at the ears.
• Fatigue, irritability.
• Imbalance, clumsiness.
• Inconsistent response to sound.
• Inappropriate answers to questions.
• Frequently needs repetition.  Says “what?” or “huh?” several times a day.
• Poor attention at home or at school.
• Needs visual cues (watches your face).
• Temper tantrums in clusters, with no identifiable cause.
• Speaks excessively loud or soft.
• Speech/language delay; unclear speech.
• Cannot locate the source of a sound.
• Easily distracted by background noise.
• Trouble following directions.
• Extremely sensitive to loud sounds.
• History of ear infections or repeated URI.
• “Wax-y” ears.
• Family history of hearing loss.
• Ear pain or discomfort.  (See your pediatrician)
• Fever.  (See your pediatrician)

Kathleen Page, President/Owner of H.E.A.R.S. Audiology, P.C. in Smithtown, is NYS licensed and Board Certified in Audiology with extensive experience in evaluating children for hearing loss and auditory processing disorders.  H.E.A.R.S. Audiology was voted “Best of L.I.” three years in a row (2007, 2008, & 2009).  In addition to comprehensive audiological and auditory processing evaluations, H.E.A.R.S. Audiology also provides hearing aid services, custom swim molds and noise protectors, musician in-ear monitors, educational inservices, and contractual services to physicians, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.  On-site hearing and speech screening services are offered to preschool programs through their HEARS-2-U Mobile Services.  Ms. Page and her staff may be contacted at (631) 360-H E A R (4327).