Roughly
1.4 babies per 1,000 newborns have a hearing loss. Five out of every 1,000
children are impacted by hearing loss, with cases being diagnosed between ages
three and 17. Hearing ability is important for children to develop speech and language skills as they grow. In
the past, hearing loss in children often went undetected until the child was
around two years old when it became obvious that he or she wasn't talking yet.
Hearing
loss is becoming more commonplace in youth due to the noise in our environment.
It is estimated at least 12.5 percent of children and adolescents ages six to
19 have suffered permanent damage to their hearing due to excessive noise
exposure. Below are some myths (and their facts) on deafness in children:
MYTH: All deaf children use sign
language.
FACT: Some deaf children do use sign
language, but remember there are lots of ways to communicate. Every deaf child
is different, and will want to communicate in the way that works best for them.
MYTH: All deaf children can lip
read.
FACT: Becoming an expert at lip reading
takes a lot of concentration and effort that can tire children. Only about 30%
of lip patterns are recognizable, and a lot of it is guesswork.
MYTH: Deaf children cannot enjoy music.
FACT: There are
lots of deaf children who love music. Some can hear music very well with help.
Others may not hear music fully, but enjoy the vibrations. There is technology
available to help the deaf child to access music like Bluetooth devices (these
use wireless communication technology and can be used with hearing aids and
cochlear implants) and having lyrics added to iPods.
MYTH: Deaf children
can hear everything with their hearing aids in (or cochlear implants on).
FACT: Hearing aids can help focus sounds and make
them louder, and cochlear implants carry sound directly to the brain. These
devices are very helpful for some deaf children, but it doesn’t mean they can
hear in the same way as a hearing child. Remember that a deaf child still needs
your help in communicating clearly and effectively.
MYTH: Deaf children don’t watch TV because they can’t hear
it.
FACT: Deaf children enjoy TV as much as
hearing children. Some like to use subtitles or radio aids. A radio aid
consists of a transmitter (used by the person who is talking) and a receiver
(used by the deaf child). A microphone picks up the speaker’s voice and the sounds
are then transmitted by radio waves to the receiver.
MYTH: Deaf
children can’t use the phone.
FACT: Lots of deaf children can talk on the
phone. Special amplified phones are available to help them, or others use text
messages, text phones and other devices.
“When I learned to sign and speak at the same time, the whole world
opened up to me. That's the beauty of encouraging kids who are deaf to use
whatever it takes to communicate.” (Marlee Matlin)[i]
[i] Sources used:
· “Hearing loss in children” by Mandy Mroz
·
“Six things you didn't know about deaf children” by
NDCS
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