Question
We recently found out, after an ABR that our 4 year old son has a hearing loss in his right ear. This came as quite a surprise since his hearing tests at 8 months and 18 months were ''normal''. I had a normal pregnancy and delivery, no hearing loss in our families, and our son has had no illnesses. More than likely he was born deaf in that ear. What books or organizations can you suggest that I read/contact to help me in giving my son the best help he can get going forward in his life?
Answer
This is a wonderful question. You sound like an observant parent. Unilateral hearing loss can pose a variety of challenges for some children. Because of problems hearing in the presence of noise and hearing at a distance, some children with unilateral hearing loss have difficulty in school and in social situations. In a book that I wrote, Facilitating Hearing and Listening in Young Children, 2nd edition (1999), I discuss listening strategies and unilateral hearing loss, if you would like more details. The book can be obtained from the Alexander Graham Bell Association (www.agbell.org).
Has your audiologist recommended trying a hearing aid on your son's right ear? It might provide some benefit and is worth considering. Also, have you seen an Ear Nose Throat Specialist (ENT) to rule out any medical causes for the hearing loss? Your educational audiologist can provide information and support.
One school accommodation that I recommend is sound field amplification; the teacher wears a wireless microphone transmitter, and her voice is evenly distributed throughout the room via wall or ceiling-mounted loudspeakers. More information can be obtained from the Educational Audiology Association (www.edaud.org).
Dr. Carol Flexer has been a Professor of Audiology at the University of Akron for 23 years. She has written over a 100 articles, book chapters and books dealing with pediatric and educational audiology. She can be reached at [email protected]
Carol Flexer, PhD, CCC-A, LSLS Cert. AVT
The University of Akron and Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium & Listening and Spoken Language Consulting
Dr. Carol Flexer received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She was at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Distinguished Professor of Audiology in the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Special areas of expertise include pediatric and educational audiology. Dr. Flexer continues to lecture and consult extensively nationally and internationally about pediatric audiology issues. She has authored numerous publications and co-edited and authored ten books. Dr. Flexer is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, a past president of the American Academy of Audiology, and a past-president of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.
Related Courses
1https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/school-audiology-and-community-partnerships-30988School Audiology and Community Audiology PartnershipsThis course will focus on the critical partnership between educational/school audiology and community audiology services. Issues that maximize educational and communication outcomes for school-aged children will be highlighted.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comSchool Audiology and Community Audiology PartnershipsThis course will focus on the critical partnership between educational/school audiology and community audiology services. Issues that maximize educational and communication outcomes for school-aged children will be highlighted.30988OnlinePT60M
This course will focus on the critical partnership between educational/school audiology and community audiology services. Issues that maximize educational and communication outcomes for school-aged children will be highlighted.
2https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/giving-children-voice-in-their-37407Giving Children a Voice in Their Hearing Care Appointments: Using Ida Institute’s My Hearing Explained for Children in Your Daily PracticeHow can pediatric hearing care professionals meet the challenge to support the 1989 United Nations “Convention on the Rights of the Child” rights in a family-respectful way? What are the benefits of following the principles of a new model of child-centered care and tools to ensure that children are at the center of hearing care? In this session, we will introduce a conversation guide, My Hearing Explained for Children. My Hearing Explained for Children is a free pediatric tool that helps hearing care professionals empower children and their families to make informed decisions about their hearing care.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comGiving Children a Voice in Their Hearing Care Appointments: Using Ida Institute’s My Hearing Explained for Children in Your Daily PracticeHow can pediatric hearing care professionals meet the challenge to support the 1989 United Nations “Convention on the Rights of the Child” rights in a family-respectful way? What are the benefits of following the principles of a new model of child-centered care and tools to ensure that children are at the center of hearing care? In this session, we will introduce a conversation guide, My Hearing Explained for Children. My Hearing Explained for Children is a free pediatric tool that helps hearing care professionals empower children and their families to make informed decisions about their hearing care.37407OnlinePT60M
How can pediatric hearing care professionals meet the challenge to support the 1989 United Nations “Convention on the Rights of the Child” rights in a family-respectful way? What are the benefits of following the principles of a new model of child-centered care and tools to ensure that children are at the center of hearing care? In this session, we will introduce a conversation guide, My Hearing Explained for Children. My Hearing Explained for Children is a free pediatric tool that helps hearing care professionals empower children and their families to make informed decisions about their hearing care.
3https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/deafness-with-autism-school-age-36764Deafness with Autism: A School Age Communication PerspectiveDeafness and autism both affect communication, but deafness is frequently identified before autism. Learn to identify the differences in communication development when a dual diagnosis may exist, proper referral channels, and intervention strategies to promote listening and communication skills in the school-age child.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comDeafness with Autism: A School Age Communication PerspectiveDeafness and autism both affect communication, but deafness is frequently identified before autism. Learn to identify the differences in communication development when a dual diagnosis may exist, proper referral channels, and intervention strategies to promote listening and communication skills in the school-age child.36764OnlinePT60M
Deafness and autism both affect communication, but deafness is frequently identified before autism. Learn to identify the differences in communication development when a dual diagnosis may exist, proper referral channels, and intervention strategies to promote listening and communication skills in the school-age child.
4https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/improving-ehdi-with-caeps-clinical-31492Improving EHDI with CAEPs: Clinical Assessment of the Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential in Children with Hearing LossThis course will provide an overview of cortical auditory evoked potentials, current research, benefits and limitations to using CAEPs in a busy clinic, and several case studies.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comImproving EHDI with CAEPs: Clinical Assessment of the Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential in Children with Hearing LossThis course will provide an overview of cortical auditory evoked potentials, current research, benefits and limitations to using CAEPs in a busy clinic, and several case studies.31492OnlinePT60M
This course will provide an overview of cortical auditory evoked potentials, current research, benefits and limitations to using CAEPs in a busy clinic, and several case studies.
5https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/seminars-children-auditory-access-37383Learning for Children with Auditory Access Needs: Insights Gained During COVID, presented in partnership with Seminars in HearingRemote learning for deaf and hard-of-hearing students during COVID resulted in both predictable and unpredictable challenges as well as some expected benefits. During this presentation, we will focus on communication access modifications in the use of remote microphone (RM) systems as well as other access accommodations.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyAudiologyOnlinewww.audiologyonline.comLearning for Children with Auditory Access Needs: Insights Gained During COVID, presented in partnership with Seminars in HearingRemote learning for deaf and hard-of-hearing students during COVID resulted in both predictable and unpredictable challenges as well as some expected benefits. During this presentation, we will focus on communication access modifications in the use of remote microphone (RM) systems as well as other access accommodations.37383OnlinePT60M
Remote learning for deaf and hard-of-hearing students during COVID resulted in both predictable and unpredictable challenges as well as some expected benefits. During this presentation, we will focus on communication access modifications in the use of remote microphone (RM) systems as well as other access accommodations.
