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Health & Fitness

Back-To-School

The “back--to-school ads” just keep on coming.  I wish I had counted all the ads I saw over the weekend.  The ads are for great backpacks, computers, and clothes.  But, I didn’t see any advertisements for taking care of your hearing.

            School has already begun in many parts of the country.  Parents are busy purchasing new clothes, shoes, and school supplies.  It is a busy time of the year trying to coordinate schedules.  But, thinking about a child’s hearing can help their learning.

            A child’s health and particularly their hearing can adversely affect their ability to function and learn in school.  There are many details that have to be taken care of at the beginning of school year.  If your child has allergies, or a history of ear infections, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing test with your local audiologist. 

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            Allergies can cause congestion.  When children have congestion, they are susceptible to fluid in the middle ear.  This fluid can be infected (an ear infection) or just fluid.  Either way, fluid in the middle ear causes hearing loss.  The hearing loss is usually temporary but even a temporary hearing loss can have serious consequences for learning.  If your child complains of “popping” in their ears, it can be a sign of fluid in their ears.  If you notice the volume on the television being increased, it can be a sign of hearing loss.

            Fluid moves around in the middle ear.  This can cause a child to hear better at times and worse at other times.  This type of hearing loss is frustrating for parents and teachers to recognize.  The child hears fine and then suddenly does not hear so well if the fluid moves.  And, to make matters worse, children with this type of hearing loss hear whispers better than when speech is a normal volume. 

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            If your child has a history of allergies, it is good to have their hearing tested if you suspect they are not hearing you consistently.  Also, if your child has a bad cold, and you notice their hearing does not seem to be normal, it is good to have a hearing test.  Most insurance companies will pay for a hearing test.  It is a good idea to have a complete hearing test in your child’s medical record.  Periodically, it is worthwhile to retest to see if there has been any change.  
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