April 28, 2022

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hearing loss in America

About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.

hearing loss in America

Current data research shows that approximately 466 million people (5.0) of the world’s population have disabling hearing loss, therefrom, 34 million children, impacting their quality of life.

In schools, jobs and family settings, hearing disabilities have been a serious issue. This problem doesn’t discriminate when you look at age or sex. How hearing loss affects families globally, is something that is getting more and more out of control. People question things like why hearing parents could produce a partially or fully deaf child?

In fact, most babies with hearing loss are born to parents who can hear. Research shows that if both parents have a copy of the gene with a mutation, they can have a child with hearing loss, even though both parents can hear.

There’s so much to know regarding the causes and symptoms of hearing disabilities. So many questions people ask regarding children suffering from hearing loss. Below are a series of questions folks ask and answers they want to know:

Image result for Hearing loss qoute

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In This Article, Read…


1) How many children in the world have hearing loss?

2) The four levels and possible causes of hearing loss in children

3) What percent of world is deaf?

4) How rare is deaf-blindness?

5) What is legally deaf?

6) What are the four levels of hearing loss?

7) What does each degree of hearing loss mean?

8) What are signs of losing hearing?

9) What are the EARLY signs of hearing loss?

10) Can people tell if someone has hearing loss?

11) What ages are most vulnerable to hearing loss?

12) What is normal hearing loss as we age?

13) What you should know about senior hearing loss?

14) Why do senior citizens ignore their hearing loss?

15) How does hearing loss affect seniors?

16) What you can do to prevent hearing loss?

17) Why don’t more seniors get hearing aids?

18) What hearing aids are the best?

19) What causes hearing loss in teens?

20) What are the causes of hearing loss in teens?

21) How common is high frequency hearing loss in adolescents?

22) How do you help teens adjust to hearing loss?

23) Is physical activity important for children and adolescents with hearing impairments?

24) How can assertive technology help athletes with hearing loss?

25) How can I help a player with hearing loss in sports?

26) Are teens at risk of hearing loss?

27) What is the link between hearing loss and school performance?

28) What activities can I do with my child with hearing loss?







 

1) How many children in the world have hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

*Stats on hearing loss in children:

15% of school -age children (6-19) have some degree of hearing loss. An estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6-19 years have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise, according to the CDC.

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition behind arthritis and heart disease, affecting people of all ages. But when it comes to adults, and according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Nearly 16% of adults in the U.S. report hearing trouble.
  • Put another way, one of out of 5 men and one of out of 8 women report they have at least some trouble hearing.
  • The prevalence of hearing loss is twice as common as diabetes or cancer.
  • New Jersey had the lowest reported rates of hearing loss, and West Virginia had the highest.
  • About 11% of Americans report ‘tinnitus’ or ‘ringing in the ears.’

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2) The four levels and possible causes of hearing loss in children

how hearing loss affects families globally

Genetics. While hearing loss can affect people of any age, some causes of hearing loss are more prevalent in children than in adults. Hearing loss has many different causes and can range in severity from mild to profound. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, hearing loss can be broadly categorized as either acquired (hearing loss that develops at any point after birth) or congenital (present at birth).

Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media). Middle ear infections are much more common in children than in adults. They occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear — the space behind the eardrum — and becomes infected.

Loud Noise Exposure. Exposure to very loud sounds, especially those over 110+ decibels, can cause hearing loss in as little as seconds to minutes.

Signs of Hearing Loss in Children. It can be difficult to identify hearing loss in children, especially in children that are too young to speak. According to the CDC, signs of hearing loss in babies include not reacting to loud noises, seeming to hear some sounds but not others, and not turning toward the direction a sound is coming from by the time they are six months old.

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3) What percent of world is deaf?

hearing loss in America

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 5% of the world’s population suffers from disabling hearing loss. Five percent may seem like a small number, but that totals over 360 million people across the globe. The majority of these people live in low- and middle-income countries, where the access to healthcare and quality of health organizations is low than that of the United States.

Global causes of hearing loss: In the U.S. hearing loss is more likely to be caused by genetics than any other factor – over half of the cases of hearing loss are due to genetic predisposition. Being educated on this subject is a ‘key’ move!

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4) How rare is deaf-blindness?

hearing loss in America

Deaf-blindness is a rare condition in which an individual has combined hearing and vision loss, thus limiting access to both auditory and visual information. The disability of deaf-blindness presents unique challenges to families, teaches, and caregivers, who must make sure that the person who is deaf-blind has access to the world beyond the limited reach of his or her eyes, ears, and fingertips.

The people in the environment of children or adults who are deaf-blind must seek to include them – moment-by-moment – in the flow of life and in physical environments that surround them.

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5) What is legally deaf?

hearing loss in America

So if you really wanted to get into categories, you could easily consider the definition of ” legally” deaf to begin when the hearing loss in your good ear reaches a range of 70-89 dB. This is the ‘severe’ category of hearing loss. Anything over 90 dB of hearing loss is categorized as profound.

A deaf person can only hear sounds at 81 dB (industrial noise), explains Avner Aliphas, MD, an otolaryngologist in Newton, MA. With severe hearing loss, you need sounds to be between 61 dB (Normal speech) and 80dB, Aliphas says.
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6) What are the four levels of hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

Here are the four levels of hearing loss. (Where do you think you fit?)

  • Mild Hearing Loss: People with mild hearing loss can only hear the quietest sounds of between 25 and 40 dB. It means that they cannot hear sounds like the ticking of a clock or dripping faucets.
  • Moderate Hearing Loss: People who experience moderate hearing loss cannot hear sounds less than 40-75 dB. Those in this category often have difficulty in understanding everyday speech. They might not hear the ringing of the doorbell or telephone.
  • Severe Hearing Loss: A person with severe hearing loss will have difficulty following a conversation. It is entirely impossible to understand normal speech when one is without a hearing aid.
  • Profound Hearing Loss: A profound hearing loss is the highest level and the most severe form of hearing loss. People with this level of hearing loss cannot hear sounds softer than 90-120 dB. A hearing aid is most likely going to be of no use for people with profound hearing loss. Profound hearing loss makes it difficult to hear sounds as loud as airplane engines or fire alarms.
  • Open image to view a fantastic product geared to assist the hearing impaired at home.

Hearing Loss Among Seniors

What are the causes, symptoms and treatable procedures among this pacific group?


Age-related hearing loss: Some affected individuals also experience a ringing sensation in the ears (tinnitus) or dizziness and problems with balance (presbystasis). Age-related hearing loss often impacts a person’s quality of life. Because affected individuals have trouble understanding speech, the condition affects their ability to communicate.

Many people experience hearing loss, especially as they age. You cannot reverse most types of hearing loss and there may be some circumstances in which you cannot avoid it. However, by preventing hearing loss with strategies such as dampening loud noises and taking care of your ears, you may be able to halt hearing loss.

7) What does each degree of hearing loss mean?

How Hearing Loss Affects Families Globally

When measured together, decibels and hertz tell the degree of hearing loss you have in each ear. Degrees of hearing loss. When measured together by your hearing healthcare professional, dB and Hz tell the degree of hearing loss you have in each ear. Slight hearing loss: This is when you can’t hear sounds quieter than about 15 to 20 dB, such as whispering or leaves rustling.

For estimates of the prevalence of hearing loss, all of these measures are of value and each provides insight into the burden of hearing loss on society. Self-report of hearing loss and the report of friends and family are important because they are relatively simple to determine and they provide a global assessment of the impact of the problem on the individual.

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8) What are signs of losing hearing?

How hearing loss affects families globally

  • Needing things repeated
  • Thinking people are not speaking clearly or are mumbling
  • Difficulty during phone conversations
  • Unable to keep up when watching TV
  • Becoming quiet in social situations
  • Feeling drained and exhausted after conversing with other people

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9) What are the EARLY signs of hearing loss?

how hearing loss affects families globally

  • Sound which is stifled or unclear in children. …
  • Feeling tired, especially after a social gathering. …
  • You read lips more than making eye contact. …
  • You cannot hear voices in noisy places. …
  • You are hearing it loud. …
  • Your ears are choked. …
  • You notice tinnitus or ringing in the ears. …
  • Open Image to see how you can combat your hearing issues.


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10) Can people tell if someone has hearing loss?

how hearing loss affects families globally

We recommend that you must be a good observer understanding their speech control, body language, their pattern and behavior. It may be an early sign of hearing loss. If you have a high-frequency hearing loss, you may notice problems understanding speech even in a relatively quiet environment, but when background noise is present or several people are talking at once, it can become nearly impossible to follow a conversation.

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11) What ages are most vulnerable to hearing loss?

how hearing loss affects families globally

Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor's advice, to respond to warnings, and to hear doorbells and alarms. It can also make it hard to enjoy talking with friends and family.

  • Sounds of sufficient intensity and duration will damage the ear and result in temporary or permanent hearing loss at any age.
  • NIHL is characterized by specific anatomic and physiologic changes in the inner ear.
  • Sounds with levels less than 75 dB (A), even after long exposures, are unlikely to cause permanent hearing loss. https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1754460&u=2374324&m=109444&urllink=&afftrack=


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12) What is normal hearing loss as we age?

how hearing loss affects families globally

The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, among those older than 60 years, over 25% are affected by disabling hearing loss. A person who is not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears – is said to have hearing loss. Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound.

Other things that contribute to hearing loss in adulthood and older age:

  • Chronic diseases
  • Smoking
  • Otosclerosis
  • Age-related sensorineural degeneration
  • Sudden sensorineural hearing loss

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13) What you should know about senior hearing loss?

how hearing loss affects families globally

What You Should Know About Hearing Loss in the Elderly Age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis, is extremely common in the elderly. Presbycusis is the medical name for age-related hearing loss. As we get older, we begin to have decreased hearing ability. It usually occurs in both ears and can begin as early as your 30s or 40s, and it gradually becomes worse over time.

According to the National Institute of Health, it is estimated that 1 in 3 people between the ages of 65-74 and nearly half of people older than 75 have difficulty hearing.

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14) Why do senior citizens ignore their hearing loss?how hearing loss affects families globally

Regardless of the combination of these presenting factors, hearing loss has been linked to feelings of depression, anxiety, frustration, social isolation, and fatigue. Several studies have documented the impact of untreated hearing loss. An often cited survey was commissioned by the National Council on Aging in 1999

Research has shown that 20% of those individuals who might benefit from hearing treatment actually seek help. Most tend to delay treatment until they cannot communicate even in the best of listening situations. On average, hearing aid users wait over 10 years after their initial diagnosis to be fit with their first set of hearing aids (Davis, Smith, Ferguson, Stephens, & Gianopoulos, 2007).

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15) How does hearing loss affect seniors?

how hearing loss affects families globally

  • Here are some of the most critical ways hearing loss affects seniors:
  • Irritability, negative attitudes and anger
  • Fatigue, tension, stress, and depression
  • Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
  • Social rejection and loneliness
  • Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
  • Increased number of falls and accidents
  • Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
  • Diminished psychological and overall health

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16) What can you do to prevent hearing loss?

how hearing loss affects families globally

    • Get regular hearing checkups. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that healthy adults with no known hearing problems up to age 49 years old should get their hearing tested ...
    • Avoid loud noises, if possible. Here’s how noise pollution harms you.

Wear protective hearing devices. Hearing loss related to sound is 100% preventable by taking proper measures to dampen sound. Purchase and wear protective hearing devices such as earplugs for any occasion in which you’ll be exposed to loud noises.

    • Earplugs and earmuffs are options to help protect your hearing.
    • Make sure to protect children’s ears from loud sounds with protective devices.
  • If you can’t avoid loud noises, protect your hearing, here's one of the main things that you can do: Limit your exposure to loud noises. One of the most common causes of hearing loss is repeated exposure to loud noises. By reducing your exposure to loud noises as much as possible, you may be able to prevent hearing loss.

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17) Why don’t more seniors get hearing aids?

how hearing loss affects families globally

Some seniors develop hearing loss so gradually that they don’t recognize how much they need help. Other seniors fear that people will treat them differently if they wear an assisting device. Perhaps the largest factor preventing seniors from getting hearing aids is cost. For those who don’t know how to find a good deal or get financial help, the purchase can seem out of reach.

Ultimately, most of the barriers to getting a hearing aid can be overcome through education. By learning about the variety of options on the market, seniors can feel confident enough to find the help they need. Remember, non-functional hearing worsens, if left untreated. So this is something you should move on at first notice.

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18) What hearing aids are the best?


Best in-ear hearing aid is 'LEXIE' our favorite choice for in-ear hearing aids. They're worth the extra money if you want the most advanced technology, terrific customer support, and cutting-edge earpiece styles that should make them the most comfortable hearing aids you've ever tried (if you don't mind how small they are!).

Many people avoid looking for hearing aids because of the cost. They see quotes of $1,500 to $3,000 per device and think that there's no way they can afford it. And, for many of us, that's true - but it's not the end of the story. Why? There are numerous over the counter (so to speak) options that cost much, much less: even under $200/pair.

Of course, if you're looking for higher-end technology like smartphone-app customization or multiple sound environment settings, you'll probably pay closer to $1,000-$2,000 for the set - but it's still a more budget-friendly option than you might have expected.

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Hearing Disabilities Among Teenagers

What are the causes and symptoms of adolescents hearing loss?

 

  • About 40% of young adults with hearing loss identified during childhood reported experiencing at least one limitation in daily functioning.
  • About 71% of young adults with hearing loss without other related conditions (such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or vision loss) were employed.

19) What causes hearing loss in teens?

how hearing loss affects families globally

What Causes Hearing Loss in Teens? 1 Congenital defect 2 Ear infection 3 Autoimmune diseases 4 Head trauma 5 Disease 6 Exposure to loud noises

Hearing loss among teenagers may also be due to problems in the inner ear, problems in the outer parts of the ear such as the ear canal, middle ear and ear drum, or a combination of the two. Although a wide range of situations can result in hearing loss, a brief sampling of possibilities includes:

  • Congenital defect
  • Ear infection
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Head trauma
  • Disease
  • Exposure to loud noises

(Open image above regarding educating, coaching and hearing loss)
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20) What are the causes of hearing loss in teens?

hearing loss in America

This type of hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud noises, such as music played through headphones (The main thing most teens would do.) The authors of another study were surprised to find that the sound of a balloon popping is louder than a shotgun being fired. Both are loud enough to cause hearing loss.

Pediatricians have noticed that using earbuds or headphones might be damaging teens' hearing.

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21) How common is high frequency hearing loss in adolescents?

One in six adolescents has high frequency hearing loss, according to a study. This type of hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud noises, such as music played through headphones.

Recommended Hearing Screenings for Older Children & Teens

Kids should be screened at three ages:

  • 11-14 years
  • 15-17 years
  • 18-21 years

The test includes having a patient listen for a series of beeps through headphones to determine whether the patient can hear a range of pitches. Also see, 'Deaf Education in the 21st Century.'

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22) How do you help teens adjust to hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

Whether due to the hearing loss itself or to changing bodies and hormones, it becomes more difficult to achieve understanding. Working toward it is one of the primary ways to help teens adjust to hearing loss.

Understanding the causes of hearing loss is therefore important, but perhaps more important understanding the psychological effects this can have on a teen. Only with a firm grasp of how hearing loss affects identity, social interaction and emotional well-being can parent, teachers, speech therapists, psychologists and others hope to help teens adjust to their circumstances.

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23) Is physical activity important for children and adolescents with hearing impairments?

hearing loss in America

Football Hearing aid within a modified helmet (info provided); visual signals between players during plays.

Physical activity (PA) is important for the development of children and adolescents with hearing impairments (HI). This systematic review aims to summaries the existing literature pertaining to the PA of children and adolescents with HI. A systematic search was conducted on eight major electronic databases.

Two reviewers independently screened and selected the returned articles, performed data extraction, assessed methodological quality and synthesized the data using an inductive approach. A total of 15 articles consisting of 14 survey studies and one single-subject intervention study met the inclusion criteria.

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24) How can assertive technology help athletes with hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

Bowling Hearing devices: Visual stimulus or scorekeeper/teammate to notify the bowler if s/he has fouled.

The use of assertive devices is an important part of making high school athletics more accessible to athletes with hearing loss. There are a multitude of relatively inexpensive devices that can be used for almost any difficult communication situation that can occur during practice and training.

In some sports, assertive listening devices can be integrated, within the boundaries of the rules, into the game itself. It is the responsibility of the coach, the athlete with hearing loss, and the other team members to work together to identify where communication breakdowns are occurring and to identify solutions.

The devices themselves are simply tools that are used to try to come as close as possible to the ideal situation.

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25) How can I help a player with hearing loss in sports?

hearing loss in America

Soccer Hearing devices as long as there is no threat of injury. ITE aid with soft canal recommended. Players deliver messages during substitutions and/or hand gestures. FM use or loop for coach conferences.

Hand motions, shoulder taps to bring attention of player with hearing loss to coach Hearing aid within a modified helmet (info provided); visual signals between players during plays. Due to physical nature of sport an ITE hearing aid with a soft canal is recommended for safety.

hearing loss in America

Basketball Red light behind each backboard lights at end of a quarter; portable loop system around bench with the coach using the microphone plus hearing devices

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26) Are teens at risk of hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

(NHANES stopped collecting information on hearing in 2010.) In 2015 the World Health Organization said that about 1.1 billion teens and young adults were at risk of hearing loss. Why? Because of unsafe sound levels from personal audio devices such as smartphones and iPod, and from noisy rock concerts, sports venues, and nightclubs.

“We know that kids are using headphones more. And headphones can cause hearing loss; that is not in question,” says Brian Fligor, Ph.D., an audiologist and founder and president of Boston Audiology Consultants in Mansfield, Mass.

Turn down the sound. A leading cause of hearing loss, second only to aging, Fligor says, is exposure to noise. Even a single burst of loud sound can damage the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear, often irreversibly, he says.

When using headphones, follow the 80-90 rule. Fligor recommends that patients who listen to music or other audio at 80 percent of the maximum volume do so for no more than 90 minutes per day. This can be a challenging rule for parents to enforce, he says, but if you teach them to respect their hearing and you model good behavior, they're more likely to stay within these guidelines.

Reinforce a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is one of the biggest risk factors for hearing loss, says Fligor. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in others. Why?

Experts think high blood glucose levels may damage the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the inner ear. Smoking is thought to inflict similar damage, Fligor says.

Encouraging appropriate eating and exercise habits is good for adolescents in general and can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes—and be good for hearing health, too.

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27) What is the link between hearing loss and school performance?

hearing loss in America

Hearing problems have been linked to poor school performance, reduced social engagement and language development, and low self-esteem. Here’s what you need to know. The results of the 2010 study and the new study should be interpreted with caution, Barrett says. (Open image regarding educating, coaching and hearing loss)

Fun Activities For Preschoolers With Hearing Aids

Deaf preschool age children shouldn't be left out of the same enjoyment as hearing children.

Preschool is an exciting time as small students learn about simple shapes, sounds of letters, how to sort objects and how a seed turns into a plant. With educational, practical and engaging worksheets, lesson plans, interactive stories, along with other sources are exceptional tools to get children interested in learning for the rest of their lives. It's important parents should recognize symptoms of hearing loss early in their child to provide proper treatment.

28) What activities can I do with my child with hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

Activities for Children with Hearing Loss. Stacking colorful fun blocks in class is cool. Play rhythm games. Clapping out rhythms is fun and a good skill to learn. Clap out a variety of different rhythms starting from something short (Daa DaDa) and building to more complex rhythms. This is a fun car activity. Language of math: Math is really a language activity.

  • Here’s a few in-home exercise for kids ideas: Army Drills: A combination of push-ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, and running in place. Stair Relays: Have the child retrieve toys at one end of the stairs and then run up (or down) to place toys in a basket.

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29) How do you Keep Your Children’s hearing aids on full time?

hearing loss in America

Full-time hearing aid use is my number one goal with both my children. The more words my children are exposed to, the more words they will learn and the easier it will be for them to speak them. Keeping hearing aids in an infant and toddler is not easy. We use clips and pilot hats to keep my daughters hearing aids on.

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30) How can I Help my Child with autism play sports?

hearing loss in America

Some sports can be challenging for kids with autism. That doesn't mean kids with autism should stay away from physical activity, but it is important to help your child to choose sports that they are likely to enjoy and excel at. Autism creates specific challenges when it comes to sports, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities.

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31) What are some non-team sports for autistic kids?

hearing loss in America

Non-Team Sports That Are Great for Autistic Children. For many people with autism, the peace and quiet of the natural world is a great stress reliever. Hiking, which can be an individual or group activity, is an easy way to get exercise and enjoy nature without the pressure of intense social communication.

Be aware that sports organized with special needs in mind are not always a good lead-in to typical organized sports, as they are more about social engagement and exercise than about athletic skill-building. (Open image regarding educating, coaching and hearing loss)

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32) What are the best early intervention activities for children with hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

6 early intervention Activities for Children With Hearing Loss:

1 BUBBLES. Blowing bubbles is a sure way to engage any young child.

Blowing bubbles is a sure way to engage any young child. This activity is easy to used to target early listening as well.

2 BABY DOLLS. Playing with baby dolls is a familiar play routine that offers lots of opportunities to input language and sounds.

3 BLOCKS OR STACKING CUPS. Creating and knocking over towers of blocks or stacking cups is an important cognitive and developmental milestone for toddlers.

4 COLORING. Using paper and crayons (or markers) is a quick activity to input sounds of various duration, pitch, and loudness.

5 WATER PLAY. Water play is always a hit with kids! Some children with hearing loss may not have waterproof devices or accessories that enable them to participate in swimming or baths while being able to hear, so I encourage (controlled) water play as a listening activity at home or in therapy.

6 PLAY DOUGH. Another versatile activity for toddlers is play dough. The actions of playing with play dough lend themselves to using words and phrases of varied duration. (Are you a parent with children between 2-14? If so, then open this link).

Hearing Loss Among Infants

This hurts many parents. But you have to deal with the hand God has dealt you!

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 3 of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. are deaf or hard of hearing. Up to half of these conditions are caused by genetic mutations, and other causes can include environment factors, complications after birth, or infections during pregnancy that may have gone undetected.

33) What causes a baby to be born deaf?

hearing loss in America

It comes from prenatal exposure to disease – a baby will be born deaf or with hearing problems if they are exposed to certain diseases in utero, including rubella (German measles), influenza and mumps. Other factors that are thought to cause congenital deafness include exposure to methyl mercury and medications such as quinine.

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34) What can cause a child to lose their hearing?

hearing loss in America

These are the things that can cause children to lose their hearing:

  • Ear infections (otitis media)
  • Ototoxic (damaging to the auditory system)
  • Drugs
  • Meningitis
  • Measles
  • Encephalitis
  • Chicken pox
  • Influenza
  • Mumps
  • Head injury
  • Noise exposure


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35) How to recognize hearing loss in infants?

hearing loss in America

Here are some of the most noticeable signs your child is suffering from a hearing disability:

  • The child does not startle at loud noise.
  • The child does not turn to the source of a sound at six months of age or later.
  • The child does not say single words, such as "dada" or "mama" by age one year.
  • The child turns their head when they see you, but don't if you only call their name.
  • The child seems to hear some sounds, but not others.

What treatments are available?

Your baby's hearing loss may not be reversible, but there are a number of options available to help them hear as much as possible. Depending on the level of severity regarding the issue, babies can wear a hearing aid, a small electronic device behind the ear that amplifies sound.

But in the case of profound hearing loss, cochlear implants may be the only solution. In 2016, South African baby, Neave Barrett, was one of the youngest in the world to receive a cochlear implant to give her the gift of hearing.

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36) What should you know about hearing impairment in infants?

hearing loss in America

Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop communication, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. If you are a parent and you suspect your child has hearing loss, trust your instincts and speak with your child’s doctor. Don’t wait!

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37) Why would a newborn fail a hearing test?

hearing loss in America

Here are a few things why a newborn would fail a hearing test:

  • Doesn't startle at loud noises by 1 month or turn toward sounds by 3-4 months of age.
  • Doesn't notice you until he sees you. Concentrates on vibrating noises more than other types of sounds.
  • Doesn't seem to enjoy being read to.
  • Is slow to begin talking,
  • hard to understand,or
  • doesn't say single words such as "dada" or "mama" by 12 to 15 months of age.

hearing loss in America

  • Automated Auditory Brain stem Response (AABR)—This screen measures how the hearing nerve and brain respond to sound. Clicks or tones are played through soft earphones into the baby's ears. Three electrodes placed on the baby's head measure the hearing nerve and brain's response.

hearing loss in America

  • Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)—This screen measures sound waves produced in the inner ear. A tiny probe is placed just inside the baby's ear canal. It measures the response (echo) when clicks or tones are played into the baby's ears.

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38) Which race/ethnicity groups have the highest rates of hearing loss?

hearing loss in America

Just as in black and white newborns and toddlers,

Non-Hispanic white adults are more likely than adults in other racial/ethnic groups to have hearing loss; non-Hispanic black adults have the lowest prevalence of hearing loss among adults aged 20-69. Here's something for you. If you're a parent with children between ages 2-14, you may want to check out this video.

In Conclusion

Hearing disabilities and total deafness is devastating among families around the world! All mothers wants their newborn normal & healthy with No issues, but it doesn't always turn out the way you'd like. So here are some statistics relating to hearing:

  • More than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents.
  • Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.
  • Among adults aged 20-69, the overall annual prevalence of hearing loss dropped slightly from 16 percent (28.0 million) in the 1999-2004 period to 14 percent (27.7 million) in the 2011–2012 period.
  • Age is the strongest predictor of hearing loss among adults aged 20-69, with the greatest amount of hearing loss in the 60 to 69 age group.
  • Men are almost twice as likely as women to have hearing loss among adults aged 20-69.
  • Non-Hispanic white adults are more likely than adults in other racial/ethnic groups to have hearing loss; non-Hispanic black adults have the lowest prevalence of hearing loss among adults aged 20-69.
  • About 18 percent of adults aged 20-69 have speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears from among those who report 5 or more years of exposure to very loud noise at work, as compared to 5.5 percent of adults with speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears who report no occupational noise exposure.
  • One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations.
  • About 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64. Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.
  • Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million Americans, has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
  • About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
  • Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.
  • As of December 2019, approximately 736,900 cochlear implants have been implanted worldwide. In the United States, roughly 118,100 devices have been implanted in adults and 65,000 in children.
  • Five out of 6 children experience ear infection (otitis media) by the time they are 3 years old.

 Please Share This Article Among Anyone You Know Dealing With This Situation Within Their Family Circle. 

 

Author: Ronald Kennedy

Ron attended the Art institute of Chicago in 1980 and Harold Washington College in 1997. He graduated from Malcolm X College in May, 2000 majoring in 'Hearing Loss in America' and 'Children with Hearing Disabilities Around the World' (Ron has another interesting website, https://lovefolks.com regarding Love, Dating & Relationship). A Graduate of Malcolm X College in 2000 with an associate's degree in applied science, Ron also worked with the 'Chicago Area Autopsy Service' which is affiliated with the Medical Examiners Office, near downtown Chicago. The service covered all the local and suburban hospitals when reports of a death is called in.

6 Replies to “How Hearing Loss Affects Families Globally – 38 Of Your Most Asked Questions Answered Here”

  1. Ani Gago says:

    Hello, I work for around 20 years with people with disabilities, and from your post I can say that you have experience in the field, or you may have done very good research. You present quality article, with detailed information about tbe people with hearing impairment. I may just suggest that you can talk about the discrimination based on disability, but it can be topic for some next article. 

    Reply
    1. Ronald Kennedy says:

      Hi Ani, thank you for commenting. Yes my friend, I too have work around, and have associated myself with people dealing with hearing loss. Add in the fact, that my step-dad couldn’t hear, which led me to do more research on this critical subject. (I do have an article based on how non-hearing kids are treated differently than hearing kids). Future postings coming!

      Reply
  2. LineCowley says:

    This is a very helpful and informative post on hearing loss. Losing ones hearing is frightening, but something that I have somehow associated with growing old. 

    So I was shocked to see that you say 2 to 3 babies out of a 1000 in the USA, are born with a detectable level of hearing loss. That is a huge amount, even at birth. Do you think modern diet and lifestyle has a role to play in that? 

    Is hearing loss something that can be detected in the womb and be corrected? With all the modern technology, is that possible?

    Reply
    1. Ronald Kennedy says:

      Hi and thank you for commenting. I come to realize they’re many families out there dealing with this issue.(They either have it in there family or know someone who does). Research shows there is no specific food that would cause child deafness, but a deficiency in nutrients, such as B12 and folic acid, can impair hearing by as much as 39%.

      As far as this issue being detected in the womb, advances in the field of antenatal diagnosis have made possible the detection of profound sensorineural hearing loss prior to birth. Fetal motion in response to sound and auditory evoked potential testing can determine the presence of fetal hearing in the third trimester of pregnancy.

      Reply
  3. pasindu dimanka says:

    This is actually a very different post. Because I was very surprised to see The stuff in this. About having this much hearing loss. And you write a very detailed post about it. This contains a lot of important information. Thanks so much for posting like this. I will definitely be sharing this. Keep posting like this

    Reply
    1. Ronald Kennedy says:

      Thank you for posting, my friend. Hearing loss is a critical thing among families with children and should be monitored throughout their growth. This detailed article should educate many concerned.

      Reply

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