Hearing Tune

Hearing loss


	Why is it so important to identify hearing loss in children as early as possible?
	The first three years of life is generally regarded as the critical period for speech and language development. Undetected hearing loss can lead to delayed or impaired speech and language development, social and emotional problems, underachievement and academic failure (Hayes & Northern, 1996). Hayes, D. & Northern J.L. (1996). Infant and Hearing (5th ed). San Diego: Singular Publishing Group, Inc.

	What are the common signs of hearing loss in adults?
	-	Always say "Huh"
	-	Always feel people speak unclearly
	-	Always miss what your family and/or colleagues said
	-	One ear can hear better than the other
	-	Have difficulty hearing in noise
	-	Have difficulty following conversation with two or more people talking together
	-	Have difficulty hearing over the phone
	-	Need to turn up the volume of TV or radio
	-	People always complaint you speaking too loud

	What are the common signs of hearing loss in children?
	-	Always say "Huh"
	-	Unable to say the first word by age 1
	-	Have speech and language delay
	-	Have poor academic performance
	-	Have difficulty following class activities
	-	Always miss what others said
	-	Misunderstand what others said and respond inappropriately
	-	Need to turn up the volume of TV or radio
	-	Always speak loudly

	Can my hearing improved by medication or surgery?
	It depends on the nature of your hearing loss:
	-	Conductive hearing loss
		*	Caused by outer and/or middle ear problems, such as malformation of the ear structure, outer ear infection, earwax impaction, perforated eardrum, middle ear infection and otosclerosis.
		*	The problem of conductive hearing loss is usually temporary. Medication or surgery often helps.
		*	If medication or surgery cannot restore normal hearing, use of hearing aid is the most efficient way to improve hearing and speech understanding.
	-	Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)
		*	Caused by damage or degeneration of the inner ear hair cells, and/or by auditory pathway damage or pathology, such as aging, prolonged noise exposure, head trauma, post-chemotherapy and tumor
		*	Medication and surgery cannot help because the problem of sensori-neural hearing loss is permanent. Use of hearing aid is the only way to improve hearing and speech understanding.

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