Babies first learn about the world through their ears. In fact, hearing helps them develop socially, emotionally and cognitively. But for the two percent of children affected by hearing loss, their development can be impaired.

“A hearing impairment can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, reading and overall learning skills,” says Eileen Mahoney, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist with Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. “However, if hearing problems are detected and treated early, children will be much more likely to develop on schedule.”

How hearing loss occurs
According to Dr. Mahoney, hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors.

• Congenital hearing loss occurs at or before birth. Primary causes include a family history of hearing loss and hearing loss due to prenatal factors, such as premature labor or if the mother had an infection, illness or diabetes during pregnancy.
• Acquired hearing loss is often the result of an injury, disease or other medical condition. This can include ear infections, meningitis and chicken pox. Listening to an unnecessarily loud mp3 player, fireworks displays and concerts can also cause hearing loss.
• Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear where fluids build up. More than 75 percent of children have an episode by their third birthday. If left untreated, fluid build-up can damage the eardrum, bones of the ear or the hearing nerve, leading to permanent hearing loss.

Is it hearing loss?
It’s not always easy for parents to determine if their infant or small child is suffering from hearing loss. However, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends parents ask themselves the following questions if they suspect a problem:

• Does my child respond to sound inconsistently?
• Is my child’s language and speech development delayed?
• Is my child’s speech unclear?
• Does my child always have the volume turned up on their mp3 player?
• Does my child have a hard time following directions?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, let your pediatrician know. “Don’t hesitate to bring up your concerns,” Dr. Mahoney says. “We have very effective treatments to help children who have any level of hearing loss. Parents and caregivers should also be alert for signs of hearing loss throughout childhood, as hearing loss may develop later in a child’s life.”

Diagnosing hearing loss and treatment
At Adventist Hinsdale Hospital’s Paulson Pediatric Rehab clinic, the littlest of patients can get the care they need through a dedicated audiology program. Here, patients can receive a variety of tests to determine hearing impairment, including otoacoustic emissions (OAE’s), auditory brainstem response (ABR), visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) and conditioned play audiometry (CPA).

Additionally, Adventist Hinsdale Hospital offers families procedures and services to help restore their child’s hearing, including:

• Hearing aids, which can be fitted for infants as well as older children.
• Bone-anchored hearing aids, which treat hearing loss by stimulating the inner ear through the bone.
• Cochlear implants that can help deaf or severely hard-of-hearing children when hearing aids aren’t beneficial.
• Educational audiologists, who can help children adjust to life with a hearing device. “Children with hearing conditions have special needs and we help them get the educational support they need,” Dr. Mahoney says.
• Screenings for central auditory processing disorders, which includes therapies such as “earobics.” “Here, a child’s ear works well, but the brain doesn’t make sense of sound,” Dr. Mahoney says.

For a parent whose child is hearing impaired, gone are the days of just accepting it. “Audiology is a constantly evolving field,” Dr. Mahoney says. “We have more options than ever before to help children with hearing loss.”

Looking for a physician? Call 866-533-7968 to find one today.