Loss of hearing is a serious, potentially permanent, widespread and growing problem among U.S. youth — and yet is often not talked about or fully understood by even the most health-conscious parents. What makes this issue especially tricky to tackle is the group it affects. Children can make hearing loss difficult to detect because they may not realize that there is a problem. If they are experiencing symptoms, odds are that they won’t associate them with the real cause and will be reluctant to bring it up to their parents.
This guide, found below, has critical information on the topic of hearing loss in children for parents, grandparents and child caregivers of all kinds. It covers the magnitude of the problem, describing the warning signs and causes and offers tips on how to prevent this issue from occurring.
Ok, bad news first. The bad news about hearing loss in children is that is it often irreversible. Children experiencing hearing loss will experience lifelong symptoms and the social challenges that come with that, adversely affecting their quality of life. This is why it’s imperative for caregivers of all kinds to be alert of the dangers and to be proactive in monitoring the hearing health of their children.
Now the good news. The good news is many of the leading causes of hearing loss in children are preventable. Children don’t have to listen to music cranked up to max on low-quality headsets or earbuds, for hours on end. Children don’t have to sit up close at a concert without protective sound blockers. As their guardian, you may be viewed as the “bad guy” and won’t be thanked for your monitoring and precautions but they will thank you later in life when they see the irreversible damage of their peer’s hearing that didn’t take their hearing health seriously.
For more insights about hearing loss in children, check out the infographic below.
Guide created by e3 Diagnostics
