In this article, we'll figure out how to test children's hearing.
With the advent of a child in the family, more time should be devoted to his he alth, including the condition of the hearing organs. A variety of infections can cause serious consequences. The most common complications are considered to be speech impairment, inability to socialize in the outside world, hearing loss.
The sooner ear problems are noticed by parents, the sooner it will be possible to identify and eliminate the causes of inflammation, and prevent possible complications. It is important to have children periodically tested for hearing problems from birth.
What causes hearing loss?
It is reliably known that even minor hearing impairments can lead to serious deviations in the development of a child. Violations in the structure of the organ of hearing may be temporary. In situations like this, there is no reason to worry about the parents.
But neglected states require help, up to carrying outsurgical interventions. It is important to understand that the consequences of such violations can become irreversible, up to complete hearing loss.
Hearing tests for newborns are carried out in maternity hospitals.
At a more mature age
Situations are not ruled out when violations appear at an older age. A two or three year old child can already talk, but hearing loss can cause speech loss. In such situations, it is necessary to seek specialized help from educators and doctors to maintain the ability to communicate.
That is why it is necessary to carefully monitor the development of the child, control his hearing and, if any deviations are detected, seek the help of specialists. The hearing tests are fairly simple.
Hearing in a child may be reduced due to hereditary pathological conditions and as a result of certain diseases, including colds, flu, otitis media, scarlet fever, measles, mumps. Hearing loss due to prolonged use of antibiotics is also possible.
How to test children's hearing? Initially, the test can be done at home. But a full examination by a doctor should still be organized in the first months after the birth of a child. As a rule, it is carried out by an otolaryngologist in a clinic.
The structure of the human ear: diagram
The ear is a paired organ responsible for the perception of sounds, control of balance and orientation in space. Localized in the temporal region of the skull, there is a conclusion - the external auricles.
The ear is arranged as followsway:
- The outer ear is part of the auditory system, this includes the auricle and the external auditory canal.
- The middle ear consists of four parts - the tympanic membrane and the auditory ossicles (hammer, anvil, stirrup).
- Inner ear. Its main component is a labyrinth, which is a complex structure in form and function.
When all departments interact, sound waves are transmitted, converted into a neural impulse and entering the human brain.
The structure of the human ear is shown below.
Causes of hearing loss
All hearing impairments in babies can be divided into three types:
- Sensoneural form.
- Conductive.
- Mixed (conductive-neurosensory).
All of them can be both pathological and acquired. They can be localized in both ears at the same time, but, as a rule, affect only one ear.
Conductive disorders develop as a result of ear trauma or disease. In addition, conductive hearing loss can occur as a result of abnormal development of the middle, outer ear.
Conductive disorders also include otitis of any kind, inflammatory processes in the throat, nose, the appearance of sulfur plugs, foreign objects getting into the ear. As a rule, disorders of this form are easily treatable.
It is customary to refer to sensorineural disorders as violations in the structure of the middle, internalear. A similar problem arises due to traumatization of the middle ear, prematurity of the baby, and other prenatal diseases. In this regard, sensorineural disorders often arise due to a hereditary predisposition.
You should pay attention to the he alth of the child if the mother had the following diseases during pregnancy:
- Mumps.
- Meningitis.
- Inflammation of a viral nature, for example, rubella, colds, flu.
Such disorders can also provoke long courses of antibiotic therapy.
Unfortunately, the therapy of this type of hearing loss (ICD 10 - H90.3) takes a long time, the rehabilitation period is delayed. At the same time, in the maximum number of cases, therapy is ineffective. Restoring hearing in this condition is nearly impossible.
Mixed disorders develop as a result of the influence of several factors at the same time. Therapy for such disorders involves the use of special medications and the wearing of specialized sound amplifiers.
Hearing test methods will be discussed below.
Preconditions for hearing loss
You should pay attention to the he alth of the hearing organs, if a child under the age of one is not frightened or startled by loud sounds. The following facts are also signs of a violation:
- Child does not respond to someone else's speech.
- The child does not turn to the voice of the parents.
- Child during sleep is notreacts to loud sounds.
- Does not turn head towards sound coming from behind.
- Ignores toys that make sounds.
- Unable to understand some simple words by the age of one.
- Baby does not start making new sounds.
Signs of hearing impairment in children 1-3 years old are slightly different:
- Child 1-2 years old does not have coherent speech.
- There is a noticeable disturbance in the process of forming sound rotations.
- The child does not perceive speech, often asks again.
- The child does not understand the speech of the person in the other room.
- The child pays more attention not to speech, but to facial expressions.
Check at home
So, how to test a child's hearing at home? Several simple methods can determine its condition. This will require toys that make loud sounds: accordions, pipes, rattles. It is necessary to stand at a distance of 6 meters from the child and make sounds with toys. The baby should freeze in the first seconds, and then turn his eyes or head in the direction where the sound comes from.
You can fix the effect as follows: make sounds alternately in the child's field of vision and behind him.
There is another hearing test called the pea test. To carry it out, you will need three empty opaque bottles. Grains (buckwheat, peas) should be poured into the first and second, the third should be left empty.
After this, the parent should sit a short distance in front ofbaby and take one filled and empty container. Then you should start shaking the jars at a thirty-centimeter distance from the child. After a minute, the jars must be swapped. At the same time, the second parent carefully observes the reactions of the child - he must turn his head in the direction where the sound comes from. The reaction of the baby will make it easy to determine whether he hears the sound or not.
This hearing test should only be used on babies over 4 months old.
Hearing test for a child from 3 years old
Every parent should know how to test children's hearing. In children of three years of age, hearing can be tested using ordinary speech. You should stand at a distance of six meters from the child. At the same time, the child should not look at the checker, so it is better to put him sideways, covering the second ear with his hand or turunda.
Start to say words should be in a whisper. If the child does not understand what was said, the inspector begins to come closer. In order to test the ability to hear high-contrast sounds, it is necessary to move away from the child at a distance of 15 meters. The words must be spoken clearly and loudly, the child must, at the same time, repeat them.
The words spoken by the inspector must be understood by the child.
It is important to understand that the degree of hearing loss is the higher, the smaller the distance at which the child cannot make out and repeat the words. If such a deviation is found, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
How to check the hearing of children on the machine?
Checking on the machine
If the slightest inflammation in the ear or soreness is found, the child should be taken to a pediatrician for examination, who will determine the need to consult an otolaryngologist or audiologist.
Checking the hearing of a child on the device can be done in several ways. If acute or partial hearing loss is noted, the following techniques should be used.
- The smallest patients are examined external auditory canal and use physiological methods.
- Inspection based on reflex manifestations. It involves the analysis of unconditioned reflexes that occur in response to sounds: the reaction of facial expressions, eyes, startle, muscle contraction.
- Checking for reflexes that occur in response to actions.
- Analysis of the auditory ossicles that record sound waves.
- Methods based on body sensations.
- Oral examination.
Audiometry
However, the most common way to analyze hearing acuity is through an audiometry procedure. It allows you to get graphical results of the study, clearly indicating the type of pathology and the degree of its development. Audiometry is carried out using specialized equipment - an audiometer.
The procedure consists in the fact that the child, hearing sounds of different frequencies and intensities, signals his perception through the button.
There are two types of audiometry - electronic and speech. The difference between them is significant. Electronic audiometry fixes the type of violationand its degree, speech audiometry, in turn, can only indicate the presence of any violation, without providing an opportunity to obtain information about the degree of neglect of the disease.
Conclusion
Thus, when the first symptoms of hearing loss are detected in a young child, it is important to seek the help of a specialist as soon as possible, who will determine the cause of the violation and recommend effective therapy. Treatment of hearing loss (ICD 10 - H90.3) should be started in a timely manner, since hearing and the ability to talk directly affect the degree of socialization of the child and his further development. Under no circumstances should hearing problems be left unattended. After all, serious hearing complications in a child can be provoked even by the flu suffered by a pregnant mother.
