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Children are routinely given developmental evaluations in elementary school to assess their growth including a hearing test, a vision screening, and other cognitive exams. If any red flags occur during these screenings, parents are notified. Parents are alerted so that they can take their child to a doctor or specialist for further tests. If your child's evaluations showed that he or she had a loss in one or both ears, you should take some steps to seek resolution. Step One Make an appointment with your primary care physician for a physical exam. Depending on what is discovered, a specialist may be needed. Your family doctor will be able to determine whether your child has an ear infection, also called otitis media. With this type of infection, fluid builds up in the ear canal and/or Eustachian tube, both of which can block the transmission of sounds. Your child may also have excessive earwax, which can impair ability to hear. If one of these difficulties has caused the problem, antibiotics can be prescribed to clear up the infection or the wax can be removed through an irrigation treatment. Step Two If your family doctor can't find a physical cause, you will be referred to a specialist. The specialist may be an audiologist, which is a doctor of audiology, or an ENT, which is an ear, nose, and throat doctor. During the consultation with either specialist, your child will be given an audiogram, which will show the level of sound perception. The difficulties could be happening because of inner or middle ear damage. Parts of the ear that will need to be examined include the eardrum, the tiny bones called the anvil, hammer, and stirrup, along with responses to sound stimulation. Depending on what is found during the hearing test, further evaluations such as a CT scan or MRI may be ordered. Step Three Depending on the results of your child's hearing test, he or she may need to be fitted with an adaptive device, have surgery, or learn some life skills to cope with the loss. Some examples of coping skills include learning sign language, to read lips, to position herself or himself close to a speaker, and to be assertive about needing assistance. As a parent, you will also need to adapt which may be obtained through counseling or classes. If your child is unable to hear sounds and frequencies in one or both ears, you will need to take some steps toward resolution. You'll need to schedule an appointment with your family doctor, possibly see a specialist for a hearing test, and seek treatment options, which will vary depending on the situation. In Seattle, WA hearing test services from Miracle Ear can change your life. Visit http://www.miracle-ear-seattle.com to learn more.
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