Ana María Arango - Audiologist

Germán Sandoval, M.D., Otorhinolaryngologist Surgeon

Bucaramanga, Colombia

A good hearing is essential to develop communication skills. Just born babies can be helped now by new technology, to detect any hearing loss or disorder. This makes possible adequate, early and specialized rehabilitation. Early detection is essential, not only in cases of severe deafness but in mild, moderate deafness. The sooner tests are performed, the better therapeutic results are obtained. Early testing also increases the possibility of children to develop any forms of communication, according to their hearing problems. 

Treatment starts immediately after diagnosing any deafness case. Late diagnosed cases are also treated by any medical procedure available. Doctors try to provide children with all language capabilities that are attainable, according to their age.  Most babies start hearing and listening immediately after birth. They learn to talk by listening and imitating sounds around them, together with their parents’ voice. Unfortunately, two or three babies, per 1000 cases, are born with severe or mild hearing problems and deficiencies. Others start losing their hearing abilities during childhood. Many of these children will require training to learn and speak their native language. For this reason, it is important to detect any problem on time, and start treatment. 

THE PERFECT TIME TO EVALUATE BABY HEARING 

The initial tests should be carried out during the first month after birth. If doctors suspect that a hearing loss is occurring, they must consult with an specialist (audiologist), who will perform any evaluations necessary before three months after birth. Once hearing problems are detected and confirmed, it is very important to decide about using audiphones or other helping devices, before six months after birth. 

AUDITORY EXAMS FOR BABIES 

There are two principal tests: They don’t require that babies do any activity at all, they just must be calm and quiet. 

Acoustic Oto-emissions tests can inform doctors if ear parts, specially the cochlea, are adequately responding to the sounds. An small acoustic probe is placed in the ear channel. Ear is stimulated by sounds, and echoes are measured. Echoes are always produced by normal functional ears. Absence of echoes could mean the existence of some hearing problem. 

Auditory Response test of the cerebral stem evaluates the way in which encephalic trunk (part of the nerve that conducts sound from ear to brain) and brain respond to sounds. Two auriculars are placed in the auditory channels, along with electrodes on forehead and ears. Then, sound waves are sent through the auriculars and the electrical activity in the brain is measured while children are listening. 

If children’s response to sounds is not systematically produced throughout the tests, doctors usually advice another auditory exam and consulting to an audiologist, for further, in depth evaluations of hearing abilities. 

IMPORTANCE OF A VERY EARLY EVALUATION OF BABIES’ HEARING ABILITIES 

First three years of life are essential for children to master oral language and communication, through a continual exposure to sounds and oral language. In fact, progress in oral language understanding is steady during the first six months of life. Research clearly shows that children suffering with hearing disabilities who get proper treatment at an early age develop much better aptitudes and skills to master oral language than children who didn’t get a treatment. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are a key that provides your children with hearing disorders with available technology and strategies that will help them learn to communicate. 

WAYS TO DETECT CHILDREN’S HEARING PROBLEMS IN DAILY LIFE 

Some children don’t experience detectable symptoms or hearing loss during their first years of age. Parents, baby sitters, grand parents are usually who realize first that a problem is occurring. No matter complete evaluations after birth, it is necessary to practice more tests, consulting with an specialist. Try to establish if your baby reacts well to strong noises, imitates sounds and starts responding to his own name. (during his first year of life)

When babies are two years old, check if they play with their voice, imitate simple words or play games that involve a response to sounds. They must be able to use two word sentences to ask for something. Three year old babies must be able to follow simple spoken instructions. Consult with a doctor immediately after detecting any problem. 

These are common behaviors of children with hearing problems: 

0-3 months Babies don’t wake up due to strong noises. They don’t react in any way to sudden, strong noises. 

3-6 months Babies don’t try to find the place where their mother are, when she starts talking to them. They don’t try to call attention by doing noise or yelling.  

6-9 months Babies don’t respond at all when their name is pronounced, or when they are called by their name. They don’t move their face toward noises or sounds. 

9-12 months Babies don’t learn to obey or follow simple commands (“bye”, “ kiss” etc,,,) They don’t repeat sounds that are always taught to them. They seem not to understand easy, simple words. 

12-18 months Their interest is focused only in what they see. They don’t follow or obey simple commands. They don’t use any favorite word. 

18-24 months Babies have not learned language skills, they signal or cry when wanting something. They don’t respond when called by their name, even loudly. 

WAYS TO IMPROVE BABIES’ HEARING CAPABILITIES 

There are many helping strategies and devices that are extremely useful for babies with hearing disorders. An audiologist can help you decide the best support tools. These are some available techniques: 

Audiphones. These devices amplify sounds. They are placed inside or behind the ear. There are audiphones of many kinds, shapes, sizes, and different technologies. They can be used for treating different degrees of hearing losses. An audiologist will choose the best audiphone for your baby’s specific needs. He makes sure that speech reception is as best and clear as possible.  

Cochlear Implants. These implants require surgery to replace cochlear cells that were lost (total or severe losses). They are usually indicated for patients suffering strong hearing loss, who don’t get better when using audiphones. 

As children grow, they may take advantage of a lot of technological devices to improve their hearing capability. For example, there are special instruments that increase children hearing and understanding at the school room, such as personal modulated frequency (FM) systems, personal amplifiers, etc… 

YOU CAN HELP YOUR BABY COMMUNICATE 

There are many ways to do it and help your children communicate, express themselves, interact with others. You must learn about your options, and seek advice by specialists. Auditory-oral options combine hearing, lip reading, audiphones or cochlear implants. Their purpose is helping children develop both speech and hearing abilities. 

Signal language is frequently used by deaf children and their families. It consists on manual signals, body movements, facial expression and gestures. It even has its own grammar and syntax. Combined options may use any available strategy. For example, many deaf children that make use of auditory-oral options could learn signal language, written language, etc… 

WILL MY CHILD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES AT SCHOOL? 

Deaf children, or children with hearing problems can always develop academic, social emotional skills and be very successful at school. Parents can play an important role, to make sure that happens. First, determine exactly how your child’s school is helping children with hearing loss. Also, make a search on any available option which is provided by institutions outside the school. Talk to parents that have already had similar problems. 

IMPORTANT FACTS 

33 babies are born everyday, suffering with complete deafness. 3 in 1000 just born babies suffer from any hearing loss. This is the most frequent birth problem or defect. 

Average time to detect a congenital hearing disability in children: 2 ½ - 3 years.

Many cases are detected only after 5 – 6 years. 

Audiofon Otorhinolaryngology Clinic recommends a complete checking of babies’ hearing, as soon as possible, after birth. 

When deafness cases are not detected, even small or mild hearing losses, or hearing loss at one ear, can produce harmful consequences. Research shows that children with problems in just one ear are 10 times more likely to be at least one school year behind their mates without that problem. 

Scientists have compared cases of children treated less than six months after birth, with children treated after six months. When children start school, children who got an early treatment are one or two years ahead the other group, regarding language skills, general learning and social abilities.

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