Hearing issues can occur at any age, but both young children and older individuals have specific risks and needs that might not be present in other stages of life. Understanding the unique needs of each is key to ensuring the best possible care. At Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we offer hearing services for a wide range of individuals and are dedicated to staying current with the latest tools and technology.
No matter your age, if you’ve not had your hearing checked lately, contacting our team to schedule a comprehensive exam is a good idea. This is especially important if you are exposed to loud noises in your work environment. You can start by taking our five-minute online quiz and then give our team a call. To learn more about our services, and hearing risks for the youngest and oldest generations, continue reading.
Understanding the Unique Hearing Needs of Children
Children have unique hearing needs because they are still learning and developing their words. For their general growth and hearing skills to be at their best, they need a proper assessment and access to treatment if required. Hearing loss at the pediatric stage not only slows their speech and language development but can also impact their social and academic progress as they age.
The auditory processes in the brain continue to grow and change in the first few years of life. For these pathways to develop correctly, they need the proper auditory stimulation during this time. Auditory experiences help the brain learn how to process sounds, tell speech sounds apart, and figure out where sounds are coming from. Any problem with this process can make it hard for a child to understand and understand what they hear.
This issue becomes even more significant as they age and enter school. Children with hearing loss who don’t get treatment may find it hard to follow directions, participate in classroom talks, and understand lessons. These problems can make them frustrated, lose their confidence, and make it hard to get along with their peers. Ensuring that children have access to the right audiological services can help with these problems and make the classroom a better place to learn.
Advances in audiology, like cochlear implants and hearing aids, have changed how children with hearing loss can learn through sound. For example, cochlear implants are surgically put into the inner ear. They go around damaged inner ear parts and trigger the auditory nerve directly. These tools can help children with trouble hearing learn how to listen and interact with their surroundings.
Audiology Services For Children
Various audiology services for children exist, some of which are detailed below. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s hearing, contact our team to see if we can help.
Hearing Screening for Newborns: Newborns hearing is typically tested at birth. This is significant because problems can be fixed quickly when they are found early, making their hearing less likely to interfere with development.
Pediatric Audiological Evaluation: Our team can determine your child’s hearing needs by using the appropriate test for their needs. We can also provide ongoing services to assess their hearing development and suggest treatments based on their needs. During these evaluations, we consider your child’s age, stage of growth, and more to provide the best possible care.
Auditory Rehabilitation: Children who have trouble hearing might need auditory rehabilitation, including speech therapy and ear training. These services help them learn to listen better and better understand and make words. Auditory therapy is based on each child’s individual needs and aims to help them communicate as much as possible.
Collaboration in Education: We work closely with you and your child’s teachers to ensure the proper assistance and accommodations at school exist. This teamwork might include developing ways to improve the sound in classrooms, giving students hearing aids, and teaching teachers how to talk to students who have trouble hearing.
Family-centered Care: Families are critical to a child’s growth of hearing. We offer advice, counseling, and tools to help you understand your child’s hearing needs and actively participate in the plan to help them. It’s important for the whole family to be involved in creating a supportive and rich listening setting at home.
Understanding the Unique Hearing Needs of Older People
The fear of losing hearing often stops the older generation from accessing help. This is unfortunate since many advancements in hearing technology exist that could make things much more manageable. If you or a loved one are struggling with your hearing, reaching out for help as soon as possible is essential. Keep reading to learn more about hearing loss at this stage.
Presbycusis and Communication: Age-related hearing loss is called Presbycusis. It is typically a gradual loss of hearing that can make it harder for older individuals to interact in different settings. If communication problems aren’t fixed, they can lead to social isolation, lower quality of life, and decreased cognitive function.
Medical Considerations: Health problems that come with age, like heart disease and diabetes, can affect hearing health. Blood flow problems can cut off the blood supply to the inner ear, making it harder to hear. Also, some medicines used to treat other health problems may adversely affect hearing.
Issues With Technology: Some older people may find using new hearing aid technology hard. This frustration leads to not using the technology at all, which only worsens their hearing. Helping the older generation understand their hearing needs and assist them with new technology is key to their continued independence.
Audiology Services For the Older Generation
Like children, many services exist for the older generation to help them with hearing. The issue is that while children are guided by their parents to get the services they need, the older generation might not have this same support. Paying attention to struggling family members or even finding the courage to reach out for your hearing needs is essential to getting needed care.
Diagnostic Assessment: We provide thorough tests to determine what type of hearing loss is present. Our team will focus on things like medical background, lifestyle, communication needs, and more to get a well-rounded picture.
Fitting and Education For Hearing Aids: After our assessment, we can suggest and fit the right hearing aids for each person based on their hearing needs, preferences, and way of life. We also offer advice on how to use and take care of hearing aids and talk to people about any worries or questions they may have.
Conversation Strategies: Our team can also suggest ways to improve lipreading, use assistive listening devices to improve hearing experiences, and offer advice for setting up a healthy hearing environment.
Regular Monitoring: Since hearing can change over time, hearing aids or other devices may need to be changed or added to make sure they work as well as possible. Our team offers follow-up care when needed to ensure our patients have exactly what they need.
Contact Our Team Today
Ensuring healthy hearing throughout a lifetime starts with a reliable and experienced audiologist team. At Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we’re dedicated your providing you and your loved ones with the care you need. Contact our team today to learn more.
info@hearingassociateslv.com
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