Congenital hearing loss occurs with a frequency of one in a thousand in Turkey as a result of the inability to perceive the sounds in the environment due to pathologies occurring in the outer, middle, inner ear and acoustic nerve. Ear Nose and Throat Diseases Op. Dr. Mustafa Korhan Asal emphasized that early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation are vital to ensure normal mental and social development in children with hearing loss. Since it brings with it disorders of speech and comprehension skills, it also leads to disruption of communication and social problems in society. While the prevalence of hearing loss from birth varies between 1/8001/1500 around the world, this rate is approximately 1 in a thousand in Turkey. Following the early diagnosis of hearing loss, the child's chance of acquiring normal language increases when appropriate amplification and special education are applied. The application of cochlear implants (bionic ear) in children with severe hearing loss has become a turning point in the treatment of hearing loss. Hearing losses develop congenitally or acquired. About 50 percent of sensorineural hearing losses in children are due to genetic causes. Approximately 30 percent of sensorineural hearing losses caused by genetic reasons are part of a syndrome. Non-genetic sensorineural hearing losses develop secondary to prenatal (before birth), natal (during birth) or postnatal (after birth) diseases. Genetic hearing losses; Syndromic hearing losses are accompanied by other clinical symptoms such as kidney diseases, visual impairment, musculoskeletal disorders and are usually bilateral. They can be listed as congenital inner ear developmental disorders, chromosomal disorders (Down, Turner), and genetic diseases often caused by consanguineous marriages. Non-genetic hearing losses; It may develop due to infections the mother had while pregnant, ototoxic drugs, premature birth, development of anoxyhypoxia (lack of oxygen) after birth, hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice), low birth weight, and stay in the intensive care unit after birth. Intrauterine infections (acquired in the womb) are; It is the most common cause of perinatal hearing loss. It may be caused by viral or bacterial causes. Rubella, measles, mumps, CMW, inf luenza and parainfluenza viruses, varicella zoster, adenovirus, herpes cause sensorineural hearing loss.
Do not condemn your child to silence!
Early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation are vital to ensure normal mental and social development in children with hearing loss. For this reason, in our country, all newborns are screened for hearing with otoacoustic emission and even nowadays BERA (Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response) test. Hearing tests in children can be performed at any age. For this reason, immediate hearing is required in cases where hearing loss is suspected, such as difficulty in hearing voices, determining the direction of the voice and fulfilling verbal commands, not understanding conversations in noisy environments, listening to television loudly or closely, decreased school success, speech not being smooth, fluent and clear in accordance with the age. should be referred to testing. Hearing loss is more easily noticed in adults. The most common causes are trapped earwax and senile hearing loss. Hearing examination can be performed using the human voice, tuning fork and audiometric tests. A person with normal hearing can hear a whisper from 67 meters, a conversation from 20 meters, and a shout from 50 meters. Tuning fork tests, audiometry, speech discrimination test, tympanometry, BERA (Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response), OAE (Otoacoustic Emission) are the tests used in the evaluation of hearing loss.
Hearing aids should be used when hearing loss is noticed.
Hearing aids for people with hearing loss. It is necessary for the patient to complete his/her language development by hearing speech and environmental sounds in order to understand what is being said and to be able to express himself/herself by speaking. Amplification with a hearing aid is recommended for patients with sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss that cannot be treated medically or surgically. Amplification should be started as soon as hearing loss is noticed, up to and including 06 months. Revealing congenital hearing loss through screening tests is important for cochlear implantation (bionic ear) candidates to prepare a bionic ear by providing amplification in the first 6 months. Regardless of the degree of hearing loss, the child should receive hearing education immediately after amplification and the participation of families in the treatment program should be ensured. Language skills of children with hearing loss In order to complete their education, they need to be with normal hearing peers and receive speech and voice therapy. Family, teachers and healthcare professionals play a major role in diagnosing hearing loss at the appropriate time.
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