PAEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGY

Early detection of hearing loss is very important to a child’s development. Hearing is essential for learning to talk and the most critical period for acquiring spoken language is from birth to three years of age. A small number of babies are born with a hearing loss that could affect their speech and language skills. Even a mild hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to speak and to understand oral language. The earlier hearing loss is detected, the sooner a child may be helped, therefore giving babies with a hearing loss the best possible start in life. Even if a baby is born with normal hearing acuity, later onset hearing losses (the most common being transient, conductive hearing losses that can fluctuate) can effect speech and language development in older children.

There are some known factors, which may put a baby at risk of having a hearing loss. Your baby should have a hearing test performed by a qualified audiologist if:

• You have concerns your baby cannot hear properly.
• There is a family history of permanent deafness.
• Your baby was exposed to an infection during pregnancy, such as rubella, CMV, toxoplasmosis, AIDS, syphilis or herpes.
• Your baby had complications as a newborn, such as very high jaundice levels, severe lack of oxygen, bacterial meningitis or encephalitis.
• Your baby was born with an abnormality anywhere on the head or neck, such as a cleft palate, ear tags or pits.
• Your baby was born with a syndrome such as Down’s Syndrome.

For older children signs of a hearing problem can include:

• Poor speech/language development
• Upset by shouting voices
• Poor school performance
• Loneliness
• Bullying behaviour
• Clumsiness
• Afraid to go to sleep
• Can’t remember instructions
• Disobedience
• Day dreaming

Any of these signs may indicate a hearing loss. If you think there’s a problem then you a probably right!

There are some other reasons to have a hearing test. These include:

• Your child’s speech is not developing as expected.
• Your child has other developmental delay.
• Your child has had bacterial meningitis or other serious illness.
• Your child has had many ear infections.
• You are concerned your child is not responding properly and often asks for repeats.

If you are unsure if your child should have a hearing test, ask a qualified audiologist, paediatrician, family doctor or maternal & child health nurse. Inner East Community Health Service have a qualified audiologist on staff at the Yarra Centre in Richmond. The service is bulk billed and parental concern is considered an adequate reason for referral.

Your child’s hearing can be tested at any age. Your baby’s response to the sounds they can hear will depend upon their age and stage of development. Special test methods are used with infants, toddlers and young children. For infants, there are electrophysical tests that can be used which do not need the cooperation of the child. These tests are performed whilst the baby is asleep and are not painful or uncomfortable. These test are now routinely carried out at public maternity hospitals before discharge as part of the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP). All maternity hospitals will be included in the program by 2008.

When a child is six months of age or older, game-like activities can be used to test hearing. During this type of testing, sounds are presented through a speaker or headphones. The child responds to sounds either by turning his or her head or by playing a game.

Your audiologist will explain the nature of the hearing loss and discuss options with you. Most hearing problems in childhood are temporary and can be improved with medical treatment. Others are permanent and may require the use of hearing aids. Early management of hearing loss is essential to a child’s social, academic, speech and language development. Early education programs are also available and play an important role in helping children with hearing concerns reach their full potential.

Remember that hearing can be accurately tested at any age. If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, have their hearing checked, even if they have had a newborn hearing screening or other hearing tests before, as hearing can change. Ask a qualified audiologist, paediatrician, family doctor or maternal & child health nurse to arrange a hearing test. Inner East Community Health Service provide a paediatric audiology service based at our Yarra Centre (283 Church Street, Richmond 3121) and parents or health professionals can make a booking by calling reception on 9429 1811.

HOW TO LOCATE A QUALIFIED AUDIOLOGIST

Audiologists are specialists who assess how people hear, and who use various technologies and therapies to help people with hearing and balance problems. Audiologists are university graduates with extensive and ongoing postgraduate training in hearing sciences and human communication. Audiologists provide clinical services in hospitals and community health centres, hearing aid clinics, private practice, university clinics, and in some medical practices. Many Audiologists are involved in research, helping to develop new hearing aids and cochlear implants, hearing health therapies, and testing procedures.

Audiologists are the only hearing health practitioners who provide services to people of all ages, from babies to older adults.

The Audiological Society of Australia (ASA) - www.audiology.asn.au - is the national body that represents Audiologists and sets the Standards of Practice for Audiologists. The Audiological Society of Australia awards the Certificate of Clinical Practice (CCP) to Audiologists who have completed a Clinical Internship and attained Full membership of the ASA. Audiologists who meet these requirements and who participate in a Continuing Professional Development program monitored by the ASA are entitled to use the letters MAudSA (CCP). An ASA MAudSA (CCP) Audiologist has demonstrated that they have up-to-date clinical knowledge and skills.