Management of the Hearing Impaired Child
John C Watkinson, Raymond W Clarke, Christopher P Aldren, Doris-Eva Bamiou, Raymond W Clarke, Richard M Irving, Haytham Kubba, Shakeel R Saeed in Paediatrics, The Ear, Skull Base, 2018
Progressive hearing loss may be due to genetic or environmental causes. In some syndromes such as Pendred syndrome, the hearing loss is typically progressive. Non-syndromic hearing loss related to a variety of known and unknown mutations can also be fluctuant or progressive.70 Some infections such as congenital CMV and occasionally congenital syphilis can cause late-onset or progressive hearing loss. Similarly, children who contract bacterial meningitis, viral infections such as mumps and measles, chronic otitis media, suffer trauma including noise exposure or ototoxicity (e.g. aminoglycosides, platinum drugs) require audiological assessments. Early detection of hearing loss in these groups is based upon surveillance of at-risk groups (e.g. children undergoing chemotherapy) and parent/teacher/medical staff suspicion.
Hearing Screening: Teleaudiology and Its Application with Children in Africa and Europe
Stavros Hatzopoulos, Andrea Ciorba, Mark Krumm in Advances in Audiology and Hearing Science, 2020
The rationale for school screening programs is almost obvious. The classroom is an auditory verbal environment where precise transmission and reception of speech is critical for effective learning to occur (Davis et al., 1986). Stated differently, being able to hear all sounds is fundamental when learning to read. The behavioral effects of hearing impairment are frequently subtle and look similar to those of children who experience attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities, language and cognitive delays (Skarżyńki et al., 2013). Common behaviors which occur with hearing loss include: difficulty attending to spoken or other auditory information; frequent requests for repetition; fatigue when listening; inappropriate answers to questions; avoidance of contacts with peers; difficulty with reading skills and written language; and a low tolerance for frustration (Johnson and Seaton, 2011). Children with mild unilateral hearing loss (UHL) exhibit difficulties in sound-source location and problems with speech understanding and these factors can significantly affect in long-term educational outcomes (Lewis et al., 2015). Such negative outcomes can be ameliorated with early identification of hearing loss and intervention via hearing aids, cochlear implants, various assistive listening devices, and aural rehabilitation. These interventions facilitate student speech and language, cognitive and social development, and consequently academic achievement is more likely to remain on target.
Special Senses
Pritam S. Sahota, James A. Popp, Jerry F. Hardisty, Chirukandath Gopinath, Page R. Bouchard in Toxicologic Pathology, 2018
Decreased middle ear function will be manifested as a reduction in hearing. Hearing loss may result from lesions in the middle ear (conductive hearing loss) or from lesions affecting the sensory cells in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss). Hearing loss can be detected by behavioral and physiological tests. Behavioral tests include the pinna reflex (movement of the pinna after a loud noise) and the acoustic startle reflex (movement, usually jumping, in response to a loud unexpected sound). A physiological test used to measure hearing in animals and people is the auditory brain stem response (ABR). In general, middle ear lesions are more likely to raise the hearing thresholds in low and middle ranges of frequencies, while most ototoxic drugs affecting the inner ear are more likely to raise thresholds at higher frequencies.
Emerging therapies for human hearing loss
Published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2022
Elise Ajay, Niliksha Gunewardene, Rachael Richardson
There are four forms of hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, combined, and central), but the majority can be classified as sensorineural, with an underlying pathology of the hair cells and/or the spiral ganglion neurons. Sensorineural hearing loss is classified as mild, moderate, severe, profound, or total, and can be caused by any of several pathophysiological mechanisms. The most common cause of hearing loss in adults is age-related hearing loss [2], in which there is gradual degeneration of sensory cells or neural pathways over time. Other factors causing hearing loss include genetics, noise exposure, infection, adverse perinatal conditions (e.g. hypoxia, asphyxia and ischemia), trauma, medications and toxins, and dysfunction of spiral ganglion neurons [1]. Other forms of hearing loss are based on conductive dysfunction, central auditory processing disorders, or a combination of these [1].
Investigation of MYO15A and MYO7A Mutations in Iranian Patients with Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss
Published in Fetal and Pediatric Pathology, 2021
Mahsa Farjami, Mozhgan Fathi, Mohammad Mehdi Ghasemi, Mohsen Rajati, Atieh Eslahi, Malihe Alimardani, Majid Mojarrad
It is better to perform the genetic diagnostic tests before conception, particularly in families with hearing loss. In deaf couples whom have not received pre-pregnancy consultation, mutation examination can be performed directly on the conceptus, at the beginning of gestation and before the second trimester [35]. Hearing loss is generally non-curable in most cases, and the primary treatment is usually cochlear implantation and hearing aids for patients aged above 12 months with severe hearing impairment. Before cochlear implantation, the individual's mutation and the involved gene should be determined. Mutations of some genes affect other structures of the ears; in these cases cochlear implantation has limited to no benefits, is expensive, and potentially increases psychological issues [36].
Assistive technologies for severe and profound hearing loss: Beyond hearing aids and implants
Published in Assistive Technology, 2020
Setia Hermawati, Katerina Pieri
According to the World Health Organisation, almost 5.3% of the world’s population have a hearing loss greater than 40 dB. Specifically within the United Kingdom, there are more than 11 million people that have some form of hearing impairment. Almost 900,000 of these people are severely or profoundly deaf (RNID, 2017; WHO, 2017). Unfortunately, not all individuals with severe and profound hearing loss can either be helped by or have access to hearing aids or implants (e.g. cochlear, bone conduction). Sahin, Sagers and Stankovic (2017) reported that, by the end of 2012, only 324,000 people worldwide had received implants. LANCET (2016) also reported that the current production of hearing aids only meets less than 10% of the global need. Thus, providing additional assistive technologies (ATs) for individuals with severe and profound hearing loss, especially those who have no or limited access to hearing aid or implants, will likely offer additional benefits and a potential to improve quality of life, which has been reported to be poor (Fellinger, Holzinger, Gerich, & Goldberg, 2010). Having access to these technologies or devices will likely allow these individuals to do something that they could not do before or to do it more easily and independently, which may then lead to better general functioning in daily life.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Ageing
- Cytomegalovirus
- Hair Cell
- Hearing
- Otitis Media
- Presbycusis
- Infection
- Syphilis
- Genetics
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss