Pediatric Screening for Balance
It
should come as no surprise, then, that asiadome.com approximately 70% of cases of
congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were also accompanied by
balance issues.
As
noted by a piece in Tech Explorist, the balance disorders that
often accompany hearing loss rarely become evident early in life. The most
commonly manifest at age four or five, when the child begins to have
trouble with ordinary activities such
asiatrendy.com as riding a bike, swimming, and playing
sports. That’s why a new initiative helmed by the University of
Canterbury (UC) School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing Lecturer Dr. Mike
Maslin intends to explore the connection between the two — and determine whether
or not infants with congenital hearing
bestbuynews.net defects should also be tested for balance disorders.
In
the meantime, if you intend to have your child tested for SNHL and accompanying
balance issues, there are a few things you should know.
Pediatric Screening for Balance Impairments
Table of Contents
·
Pediatric Screening for
Balance Impairments
Recognizing
vestibular and hearing issues early in a child’s life is critical. Left
untreated, they can impact more than simply hearing. They can have a
significant adverse effect on motor development and cognitive function. If you
suspect your child may be suffering from SNHL, make an appointment with a
pediatrician as soon as possible.
Hearing
tests for infants/children are relatively benign and straightforward and
typically take one of two forms. Both involve the use of a small ear probe
inserted into the child’s ear. The probe plays a few quiet sounds, and then a
software platform measures the ear’s response to the sound.
As
for vestibular issues, there are many ways to assess horizontal canal function
in a child, though these should never be carried out without the
supervision of a qualified medical doctor. Infants, in
particular, are easier to test as they have yet to suppress their natural
reflex responses. The simplest process involves having you sit on a chair with
your child and spin around a few times, at which point the doctor examines the
child.
There
are other assessments as well, such as a Video Head Impulse Test, which
involves a specialized pair of goggles that track eye movement — again, these
are best left to a medical professional.
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