1 how we hear 2 the impact of sound waves on the eardrum creates vibrations transferred through the ear by a series of three tiny bones 3 the third bone called the stapes is connected to a delicate snailshaped structure called the cochlea often referred to as the inner ear the cochlea which is filled with fluid and lined with thousands of microscopic hairs transmits these vibrations causing the hair cells to bend the bending of these hair cells sets off nerve impulses that are then passed through the auditory nerve 4 the auditory nerve carries the signal to the hearing center of the brain which translates the impulses into what we perceive as sounds siemens hearing instruments designed this educational guide as a resource for you the parents teachers and caregivers of children with hearing loss so that you better understand hearing loss how we hear understanding hearing loss begins with understanding how we hear 1 sound waves are collected by the outer ear and channeled along the
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speech is composed of both vowels and consonants in general the vowels are of greater intensity and lower frequency shown in yellow on the chart on page 2 in contrast the consonants are of lesser intensity and higher frequency shown in blue on the chart on page 2 for this reason vowels contribute the greatest to the loudness sensation of speech whereas consonants contribute most significantly to the understanding of speech this is why children with hearing loss only in the high frequencies may say that speech is loud enough but still have trouble understanding what is being said they may also have problems with past tense and plural words 3 4
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4 measuring hearing loss mild hearing loss 26-40 db this category is similar to minimal hearing loss but with effects that are greater in degree your child may hear speech but fragments especially short words word endings and indistinct word sounds tend to drop out background noise in classrooms and other environments will make it even harder to hear hearing instruments are usually recommended measuring hearing loss whatever type of hearing loss your child may be experiencing sensorineural conductive or mixed it s important to remember that each hearing loss is unique specific measurements detect the type and degree and are used to determine proper hearing solutions for each child s one-of-a-kind hearing loss moderate hearing loss 41-55 db with moderate hearing loss the child may miss over 50 of speech and even more as background noise increases as a result if hearing instruments are not provided the child may often have very limited communication skills a limited vocabulary and
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severe to profound hearing loss 75 db and above with this degree of hearing loss sounds and especially speech are almost never audible speech is unlikely to develop without the use of hearing instruments or other interventions many children with hearing loss in this range will often be referred to programs which offer specialized instruction in various communication methods fluctuating hearing loss children who frequently have ear infections otitis media and fluid build-up in their ears can experience varying degrees of hearing loss lasting up to three 3 months or more even though the hearing loss is temporary the child can still develop the speech language and cognitive problems associated with permanent hearing loss the child may hear but will miss fragments of the information high frequency hearing loss 1500 hz 8000 hz the child will have hearing loss predominantly in the high frequency area and will be unable to consistently hear consonant sounds significant portions of importa
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tests given to children that measure behavioral reactions to sound stimuli include visual reinforcement audiometry vra in which a child is seated in a sound booth and the reactions to the presence and location of sound are measured by observation play audiometry and traditional audiometry also utilize behavioral methods and observation to determine the child s hearing levels older children may be tested with headphones which allow measurement of each ear individually as opposed to both ears together using a loudspeaker in a sound booth ongoing audiological follow-up is critical for every child with hearing loss regular testing is necessary to ensure that the hearing loss is not worsening and if hearing instruments are worn that they are in good working condition and functioning optimally for hearing loss if questions or concerns arise between visits be sure to contact your audiologist to discuss and/or make an appointment particular intervention necessary for each child is unique and
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6 hearing instruments no hearing instrument can solve every hearing problem or restore normal hearing hearing instruments are designed to provide amplification so that the child can hear better in many situations wearing two hearing instruments is most often the recommended treatment when there is hearing loss in both ears called binaural amplification this approach provides the brain the true organ of hearing with input from both ears binaural amplification offers your child balanced hearing and better understanding of speech in noisy environments even when a hearing loss is more severe in one ear most children with hearing loss can benefit from the natural sound-gathering ability of both ears as mentioned in the first sections of this guide it is important to find the right solution for each child s hearing loss once the testing has been completed the hearing care professional will then recommend hearing instruments that are right for your child hearing instruments using the result
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your hearing care professional can advise whether this would be appropriate and will discuss the technology involved choosing colors one of the ways children can become more comfortable with wearing their hearing instruments is by choosing colors that suit their own style and personality most siemens bte hearing instruments come in a variety of fun colors personal earmolds may also be available in different colors and patterns from your hearing care professional something as simple as wearing hearing instruments in pleasing colors can play a large role in your child s acceptance of his/her hearing instruments it can help boost overall self-esteem while wearing them custom made ite in-the-ear hearing instruments are not recommended for infants and young children for many reasons custom instruments do not provide power levels necessary for severe to profound hearing loss and they are not typically compatible with fm listening devices necessary for many children their custom fit makes the
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web resources for more information there are many resources on the internet here are just a few websites which provide information on hearing loss in children www.agbell.org www.asha.org/public www.audiologist.org/consumers www.babyhearing.org www.beginningssvcs.com www.boystownhospital.org/parents http clerccenter.gallaudet.edu www.handsandvoices.org www.healthyhearing.com www.jtc.org fm systems may be found in classrooms churches/synagogues civic centers theaters and convention centers so children and adults with hearing loss can often attend a gathering or performance with comfort and confidence most siemens btes are compatible with widely used fm technology hearing makes friends at siemens hearing instruments we hope that this guide has helped inform educate and support you remember that a positive outlook and the right hearing solution will ease your child s way the siemens hearing makes friends kid g-eartm program is designed to offer the resources you need to make this experie
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siemens hearing instruments inc 10 constitution avenue p box 1397 .o piscataway nj 08855-1397 siemens hearing instruments a division of siemens canada limited 320 pinebush road cambridge ontario n3c 2v3 www.usa.siemens.com/hearing information in this brochure subject to change without notice copyright © 2004 siemens hearing instruments inc all rights reserved 7087351 10/04 2.0 22l884 5k shi/07019-4
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