Preventing Congenital Hearing Loss

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Pregnant Woman Talking to Doctor

Image source: Pregnancyandbaby.com

Each year in the U.S., thousands of babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. While not all types of hearing loss are preventable, protecting your baby’s hearing can begin before he is even born. You can’t change your baby’s genes, for example, but hearing loss can also be caused by factors other than genetics. Hearing loss can be caused by toxins like drugs taken during pregnancy and complications experienced during pregnancy. It can also be caused by infections. Talk to your doctor about having a toxin-free pregnancy.

When your baby is born, he will undergo routine hearing screenings. It’s also important to have your child’s hearing checked regularly as he grows. In the event that your baby has already been diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, consider alternative methods of communication. Take a sign language course, for example. You could also explore the use of Speech Buddies to facilitate communication as your child grows.

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Apps for Traumatic Brain Injuries: Cognitive Rehab

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Child Using iPad App

Image source: Reallykidfriendly.com

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in so many different types of symptoms. You might also notice that your child develops different symptoms after he is released from the hospital, or even months or years following the injury. People who suffer from a brain injury commonly experience issues with cognitive skills. Cognition includes memory, awareness, reasoning, problem solving, and concentration. Cognitive problems can also include issues with executive functioning, which refers to self-monitoring, goal-setting, planning, and initiating.

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Celebrities with Lisps

by Jacky G. Pronunciation & Lisps Speech Disorders
Person with a Lisp

Image source: Ehow.com

As a parent, one of the hardest things is to see your child struggle. We wish we could protect them from everything, including being bullied or feeling low self-esteem because of a difference. As a child with a speech disorder grows older and begins to attend playgroups and school, other children might call attention to the differences in his speech and language patterns. Having positive role models who also struggled with these issues might help your child overcome this. Numerous celebrities have been diagnosed with speech disorders, including lisps. Discuss these stories with your child and remind him that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to.

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Treating Hearing Loss

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Infant Hearing Screening

Image source: Entcare.wordpress.com

Early detection of hearing loss is critical. When an infant’s hearing loss goes undetected and untreated, his speech and language development will be delayed. The intervention plan for hearing loss will be different for every child and dependent upon the type, degree, and cause of the condition. In some cases, the child’s hearing difficulties are temporary and can usually be resolved. Otherwise, the child’s intervention plan will consist of services aimed at improving communication. While these services are not a cure for the condition, they can greatly facilitate successful communication and allow for speech and language development.

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Could Your Child Have Hearing Loss?

by Jacky G. Hearing Loss
Child with Headphones

Image source: Priceonomics.com

So many parents count their children’s fingers and toes at birth, but not all problems are immediately evident. Hearing loss affects about four out of 1,000 newborns, and three million kids under the age of 18 have some form of hearing loss. There are several different types of hearing loss, and it also varies in severity. A child might be born with the condition, or he might acquire it later on.

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