{"id":7986,"date":"2019-08-22T16:50:58","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T16:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evergr19.fm1.dev\/?page_id=7986"},"modified":"2021-10-11T17:22:09","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T00:22:09","slug":"pediatrics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/everhear.com\/hearing\/pediatrics\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatric Audiology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pediatric Hearing Tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hearing loss can affect those of all ages, including children<\/a>. Diagnosing and treating hearing loss in the pediatric population requires different instruments than those used on adults. Children may also experience different disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newborn Hearing Tests<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To test the hearing of newborns and infants, subjective tests must be used, as newborns are unable to articulate what they can and cannot hear. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) provides information on how a child\u2019s cochlea and neural pathway is functioning. Electrode stickers are placed on and around their head to measure their brainwave activity in response to sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs<\/a>) are the barely audible sounds given off by the hairs lining the cochlea. A small earphone is placed into the ear and a sound is played to elicit the release of OAEs. If no OAES are detected, this could mean there is a blockage in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear or damage to the hair cells within the cochlea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Hearing Tests for Kids Performed?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For slightly older children, \u00a0depending on their age, they are either taught to turn their head toward an animated toy or video (visual response) or drop a block in a bucket (conditioned play) when they hear a sound. These versions of pure-tone testing will discern single-sided hearing loss unless headphones are worn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testing Speech in Toddlers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two types of speech testing are common. First is speech detection which is finding the softest word a child can hear.\u00a0 Second is speech recognition which the child repeats back to the word to the tester or the child points to the word on a page. This test may be performed in different environments with different levels of background noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pediatric Ear Infections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Infections of the middle ear are the most common cause of hearing loss in children. An infection is caused by a buildup of fluid within the middle ear<\/a>. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that connect the middle ear with the back of the throat. In children, these tubes are much smaller and sit horizontally, which means they are more likely to get blocked. These tubes are responsible for regulating pressure and fluid within the middle ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ear Tubes May Provide Long-term Relief<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A common solution to long-standing middle ear infections is ear tubes. A simple surgery by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist creates a hole in the child\u2019s eardrum, and a small tube is placed within the hole to keep it open. This hole helps to prevent fluid from building up, preventing future ear infections. After a few months, these tubes usually fall out on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech-Language Milestones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speech-language milestones help pediatric audiologists identify potential audiological problems by assessing and monitoring a young child\u2019s communication development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Speech-Language Milestones?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Children all learn and develop differently, so it can be difficult to determine whether a baby\u2019s communication abilities are progressing at a normal, healthy rate. Despite huge variations in the process of early childhood development, infants typically follow some universal patterns of speech and hearing growth. Using these patterns, pediatricians can evaluate a child\u2019s development through a set of guidelines called speech-language milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These communication guidelines aren\u2019t just useful for doctors; they\u2019re a helpful tool for parents as well. A basic understanding of speech-language milestones will allow you to assess whether your child\u2019s language development is normal or irregular. Irregular communication development doesn\u2019t always indicate an auditory impairment; however, any child who shows signs of slow development should get a hearing assessment as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most important speech-language milestones for infants and toddlers are listed below. Normally developing children should be able to perform the tasks described by the end of the milestone\u2019s specified age range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech Milestones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n