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| Hearing loss in children: |
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How can you tell?
- Child is having difficulty paying attention
- A delayed response or no response is given when spoken to
- Says "huh" often
- Listens to the TV or radio loudly
- Not following directions well
Speech and language milestones to look for include:
- Newborns: Crying and startling to loud sounds.
- 2-3 months: Differentiate sounds to communicate pain, hunger, and discomfort. Begin to coo for comfort and form sounds in the back of throat ("goo").
- 4-6 months: Turns head toward the direction of a sound source.
- Start making noises, putting vowels and consonants together, and babble. Babies who are profoundly deaf will start babbling but eventually stop when they don't have necessary feedback.
- 6-12 months: Babbles, repeat syllables like "ma-ma-ma", use gestures to communicate, know his or her name.
- 12-18 months: Strings sounds together, understands 50 words or so and may use few spoken words.
- 18-36 months: Says short sentences, and sing songs by around age three.
For additional information visit www.oraldeafed.org. |
| Adults: Self-Test |
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Take this test to help determine if you have a hearing loss and need to have your hearing evaluated.
- Do you have problems when listening to the TV or radio?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV up too loud?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
- Do you have problems carrying on a conversation over the telephone?
- Do you have trouble following conversation, often missing parts of words?
- Do you have difficulty hearing in noisy situations?
- Do you often find yourself watching what people say to avoid missing the conversation?
- Do family members or friends comment on your difficulty hearing?
- Do you think that people mumble or speak too softly?
If you answered yes to more than 2 of these questions, you should schedule an appointment to have your hearing tested by an audiologist. |
Hearing Loss: Degrees of hearing loss and effects on everyday listening
(adapted from www.asha.org) |
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| Hearing Loss |
Effect of hearing loss on everyday listening situations |
Mild Loss
26-40 dB |
Depends on noise level, distance away from sound source, and hearing loss. Can miss 25-40% of speech at 30 dB. Will benefit from hearing aid. |
Moderate Loss
41-55 dB |
May miss 50-75% of conversation at 40 dB. Can understand one-on-one conversation at about 3-5 feet. Will benefit from hearing aid. |
Moderately / Severe Loss
56-70 dB |
May miss most or all of message in face-to-face conversation. Will have greater difficulty in a group setting. Will benefit from hearing aid. |
Severe Loss
71-90 dB |
May not hear voices, unless speech is very loud. Without amplification, will not recognize speech through listening alone. |
Profound Loss
91 dB - or more |
May not be able to detect the presence of sound without amplification. Will rely on visual communication. | |
| Types of Hearing Loss |
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- Conductive Hearing Loss:
This is a hearing loss caused from a condition of the outer and/or middle ear. When it occurs, sounds cannot be conducted normally through the middle ear. Buildup of wax in the ear canal, a hole in the eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, poorly functioning Eustachian tubes, or damaged middle ear bones are a few examples of some common causes.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss:
This type of hearing loss occurs when damage occurs to the inner ear or the nerve pathways in the auditory nerve, preventing the signal from reaching the brain. Common causes include heredity, aging, and noise exposure.
- Mixed Hearing Loss:
This type of hearing loss is caused by both a problem in the middle ear and the inner ear. |
| Hearing Conservation |
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- 20 million Americans are exposed to dangerous noises every day.
- Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss.
- Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative, permanent, and preventable.
Noise is dangerously loud if you have to shout over it to be heard by others. Continued exposure to noise of 85 dB or louder willer eventually harm your hearing. Some examples of dangerously loud activities include:
- Video arcades
- Firecrackers
- Live music concerts
- Gunshots
- Movie theaters
- Motorcycles
Limiting exposure to noise activities and wearing appropriate hearing protection are recommended to protect your hearing from damaging noices. Appropriate hearing protection include ear plugs or ear muffs designed for noise protection and can be obtained from this clinic. To view various styles or for additional information, visit www.westone.com. | |
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