On Friday, April 27, University of Iowa Children's Hospital is sponsoring a one-day introductory seminar on language development for young children with hearing loss. Bruce Gantz, MD, UI Hospitals and Clinics otolaryngologist and Professor and Head of the University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, talks about the hearing loss in children:
What are the percentages of children born with hearing loss?
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (the NIDCD) approximately 2 to 3 of every 1,000 children in the United States are born deaf or hard of hearing. These figures translate to approximately 60 to 90 children in Iowa per year.
Are all newborns tested for hearing loss, or how is it discovered?
In the state of Iowa, newborn hearing screening is mandatory in all birth hospitals or birth centers. Universal hearing screening is a growing trend in the United States; however it is not mandatory in every state at this time.
The screening is typically performed by an audiologist, audiology assistant, or nurse and takes only a few minutes to perform. Using a computer, the professional plays a sound into the infant's ear and looks for a response from the ear, similar to an echo. It's important to note that it is not a comprehensive test of hearing. If a baby does not pass the screening, more thorough testing should be done before a diagnosis can be made.
It is important for parents to realize that the screening is not comprehensive. For example, a baby may fail the screening, but follow-up testing can indicate no hearing loss. On the other hand, a baby may pass the screening, yet in time, a hearing loss may be identified. National recommendations are to have an infant's hearing screened before one month of age, hearing loss identified by three months of age and early intervention services in place by six months of age.
What options do parents have when their child is born deaf?
There are several options for parents of a child born with hearing loss. These options include making choices about hearing devices, methods of communication and educational and vocational placement. As professionals, our goal is to thoroughly educate families about their options and to support them in making the choice that best meets their family's needs.
Do all children born with a hearing loss qualify to receive a cochlear implant?
Before addressing this question, I would like to provide the definition of a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is a small auditory prosthesis that provides direct electrical stimulation to the hearing nerve and helps to provide a sense of sound to a person with severe to profound hearing loss. A cochlear implant consists of two parts, the externally worn speech processing unit and the portion that is surgically implanted under the skin.
Having said that, not all children with hearing loss are candidates for a cochlear implant. Typically, children who are candidates for a cochlear implant have bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, which is a permanent type of hearing loss. We also rely greatly on input from family members and educational professionals when establishing candidacy. Prior to the determination of cochlear implant candidacy, the child is given a hearing aid trial to ensure they do not receive adequate benefit from the hearing aids. A Computed tomography (CT) scan is also performed to show the anatomy of the inner ear structures. This test helps the cochlear implant surgeon to determine surgical candidacy for a cochlear implant.
How long do cochlear implants last?
This is a question we do not have an answer for. We know that scientists have been studying electrical stimulation in individuals with hearing loss since the early 1960's and clinical trials on the modern day cochlear implant were introduced in the mid-1980's. Having said this, we do not know how long a cochlear implant will remain in an individual, however we do have implant users who have had used the same device for over 20 years. The cochlear implant manufacturers also do a nice job of upgrading the externally worn speech processor components to work with older internal components so that users may benefit from the most recent technology without requiring additional surgery.
Let's talk a minute about the day-long event on Friday. Who is invited to attend?
Early intervention professionals, educators of children with hearing loss, pediatric speech pathologists, pediatric audiologists, and parents with a child with hearing loss.
Where is the event located?
Center for Disabilities and Development at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Is there a fee to attend?
Yes, there is a sliding scale fee for professionals, parents, and full-time students. Fees include conference materials, breakfast and lunch.
Who are the speakers at the event?
Speakers will include, Heather Whitestone McCallum, the first Miss America (1995) with a disability, as well as Donald Goldberg from the Cleveland Clinic and Dianne Hammes of the Carle Foundation Hospital. |
