Hearing loss in children after a cold
The cold affects the upper respiratory tract. Swelling of the tuba auditiva (auditory trumpet), which opens into the throat, can cause ventilation problems in the ear. This leads to a temporary hearing loss.
This can also cause severe pressure on the affected ear. This pressure leads to increased hearing loss and pain. The pressure can be equalized using the Valsalva maneuver.
The Valsalva maneuver involves pressing against the closed nose and mouth. This usually causes the ears to open. When the cold subsides, the tubae auditivae also swell again so that the ear is better ventilated. This is how the entire hearing ability is regained.
What are the consequences of hearing loss in a child?
In children, a hearing test always belongs to the U2 to exclude congenital hearing damage. The hearing test is done because one consequence of hearing loss in children is that they have difficulty learning the language. Therefore, the hearing of the children during development must be taken into account.
Diagnostics
In the presence of risk factors, certain hearing tests should be performed to verify hearing performance. To the factors of risk belong for example: In pediatric diagnostics there are subjective and objective hearing tests. In the subjective tests, the child is offered a sound stimulus and the examiner observes and then evaluates the child’s response.
In the objective hearing tests, it is advantageous if the child is asleep, as no cooperation of the child is required. A sound stimulus is presented, the neurobiological reactions are recorded and evaluated by an examiner. One of the most important objective screening methods for newborns is the measurement of otoacoustic signals, which are reflected as an “echo” from the inner ear after an acoustic irradiation.
The measurement of acoustic evoked auditory potentials (BERA) is considered the gold standard.
- Intensive medical treatment required after birth
- Presence of hearing loss in the family
- Pregnancy infections
- Suspected hearing loss expressed by parents
- Lack of age-appropriate language progress
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Etc.
The therapy depends on the cause of the hearing impairment. For conductive disorders, many mechanical treatment methods are used.
For example, the earwax (cerumen) plug is sucked off or rinsed out. More difficult is the treatment of inner ear hearing loss. As in adults, an infusion of rheologica, novocaine and cortisone can be administered for acute acute hearing loss.
If the hearing loss cannot be treated surgically or conservatively, a hearing aid should be considered. In case of a complete loss of hearing, an inner ear stimulation prosthesis (cochlear implant = CI) should also be considered. Hearing aids and cochlear implant treatment are integrated into an overall treatment concept, which also includes care, counselling and guidance for parents as well as special educational measures if necessary.
Salts are available as a homeopathic remedy for Schüssler hearing loss. These are intended to optimize the cell metabolism and thus reduce the hearing loss. Potassium chloride and Euphorbium are also available.
