Auditory disorders in children
An auditory disorder is understood to be the disturbed conduction and perception of acoustic stimuli. In contrast, a disorder of processing and perception, i.e. processes in the brain, is called an auditory processing and perceptive disorder (see there). Hearing serves to receive acoustic information; in doing so, speech has top priority for people. In case of children, an auditory disorder has special significance as they have to learn to speak in the first place.
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Auditory disorders may affect any regions of the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. In case of children, temporary disorders of the middle ear by infections and a disturbed ventilation of the middle ear via the Eustachian tube occur frequently. These may lead to painful acute middle ear inflammations or painless middle ear effusions, which may affect the auditory capacity even over several months. These diseases occur less frequently with increasing age.
Congenital auditory disorders occur rarely. They are often a disorder of the inner ear. In the meantime, this is examined in each child as early as in the first few days of life by means of the newborn hearing screening.
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Congenital auditory disorders occur rarely. They are often a disorder of the inner ear. In the meantime, this is examined in each child as early as in the first few days of life by means of the newborn hearing screening.
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Please ensure that the newborn hearing screening is carried out on your newborn child. Regular preventive checkups by the paediatrist (referred to as U-examinations - paediatric health screenings) can reveal risks and already apparent auditory disorders in children.
Middle ear effusions occur more often in children who frequently have rhinitis and in whom the pressure compensation for the middle ear does not work properly (e.g. in case of large polyps in the rhinopharynx, medical term “adenoids”, in case of overall low muscular tone or cleft palate). Auditory tests on a regular basis are recommended for children with developmental disturbances.
The child’s auditory capacity should be examined at an early stage already in case of few indications for an auditory disorder in order to avoid resulting disturbances of the speech development.
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Middle ear effusions occur more often in children who frequently have rhinitis and in whom the pressure compensation for the middle ear does not work properly (e.g. in case of large polyps in the rhinopharynx, medical term “adenoids”, in case of overall low muscular tone or cleft palate). Auditory tests on a regular basis are recommended for children with developmental disturbances.
The child’s auditory capacity should be examined at an early stage already in case of few indications for an auditory disorder in order to avoid resulting disturbances of the speech development.
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An auditory disorder may be noticed in children through the fact that they scarcely react when they are addressed without accompanying gestures. In case an auditory disorder is persistent for a long time, it may also affect the speech development (see there).
An auditory disorder is difficult to recognise in infancy, however, severe dysacousia may become apparent through the fact that the so-called second babbling phase, i.e. between about the 6. and 12. month of life, is missing or the child does not utter a sound at all or does so decreasingly.
Should you be uncertain about your child's auditory capacity, you should arrange for an auditory examination at an early stage!
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An auditory disorder is difficult to recognise in infancy, however, severe dysacousia may become apparent through the fact that the so-called second babbling phase, i.e. between about the 6. and 12. month of life, is missing or the child does not utter a sound at all or does so decreasingly.
Should you be uncertain about your child's auditory capacity, you should arrange for an auditory examination at an early stage!
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The diagnostics include various painless procedures, which are carried out with the children playfully. Similarly to the newborn auditory screening, the middle and inner ear function can be examined with a probe in the ear; the auditory threshold is determined during playing or, in case of older children, by means of headphones; it can even be determined in sleep, similarly to an EEG examination. Usually, several methods are used simultaneously.
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Dysacousia is very well treatable; today, even deaf children can hear again and have a good speech development using appropriate hearing aids.
An auditory disorder is treated depending on its causation; the treatment is selected individually. Persistent middle ear disorders can often be sufficiently treated with medication. Sometimes a small surgery may become necessary. Disorders of the inner ear function are usually treated by special hearing aids for children. In case of severe dysacousia originating from the inner ear, implantable hearing aids, referred to as cochlear implants, are available as well.
In case of persistent dysacousia, special, extensive promotion is recommended to avoid risks for the speech and overall development.
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An auditory disorder is treated depending on its causation; the treatment is selected individually. Persistent middle ear disorders can often be sufficiently treated with medication. Sometimes a small surgery may become necessary. Disorders of the inner ear function are usually treated by special hearing aids for children. In case of severe dysacousia originating from the inner ear, implantable hearing aids, referred to as cochlear implants, are available as well.
In case of persistent dysacousia, special, extensive promotion is recommended to avoid risks for the speech and overall development.
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