Hearing loss early in life can greatly affect a child’s social and educational development. Speech and oral language skills develop more easily when a child experiences language during the first years of life.

Marriage counselors often find that one of the biggest issues their clients (both men and women) have is poor communication. A related topic, which always receives special attention, is learning to listen. So why is this important? Because being able to express ideas verbally and receive information by effective listening are essential. This is a common edict in marriage, but it is even more essential for children in their early development years.

A key to both oral communication and effective listening is the ability to hear what is being said. Children who are born deaf or acquire hearing loss shortly after birth are more likely to have speech and language problems later in life. If hearing loss is not identified early and given appropriate treatment, these children can become isolated from the hearing and speaking world.

Hearing impairment remains the number one disability at birth in the United States. Each year, one half of 1 percent of the 50,000 children born in Oklahoma (approximately 250) will be born with severe to profound hearing loss. An additional 3 to 6 percent (1,500 to 3,000) will have some degree of measurable hearing loss during their first year of life. Fortunately, universal newborn hearing screening now is mandatory in Oklahoma. Presently, more than 96 percent of all newborn infants receive specialized hearing tests before leaving the hospital or birthing center.

Numerous studies have shown that treatment of hearing loss is most successful when it is initiated within the first six months of life. Early intervention can prevent speech and language delay. Most children who receive aggressive medical treatment for hearing loss by 6 months of age will be able to perform at the same age-related level as their normal-hearing peers by the time they reach school age. So how do these children receive the hearing assistance they so desperately need?

R. Kent Dyer Jr., M.D., medical director, INTEGRIS Hearing Enrichment Language Program at the Hough Ear Institute

HELP helps children
In 1994, the Hearing Enrichment Language program (HELP) was founded by the Hough Ear Institute, in partnership with INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, to assist children with hearing loss in learning to listen and talk so that they can successfully integrate into the hearing world.

With a team of audiologists, speech therapists and neurotologists who specialize in treating pediatric hearing loss, HELP and the Cochlear Implant Clinic at the Hough Ear Institute work together to develop the communication skills of children who are hard of hearing.

Medical evaluation of hearing loss
Children who fail newborn hearing screenings or who develop hearing loss after birth initially are seen by one of the neurotologic physicians on staff at the Otologic Medical Clinic for a comprehensive medical evaluation.

A series of audiologic, imaging and genetic tests are conducted as needed to determine the cause of hearing loss and to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Medical treatment of middle ear infections or fitting with hearing aids may be required. Occasionally, ear surgery can restore or improve hearing.

Children with profound hearing loss who do not benefit sufficiently from hearing aids may be candidates for a cochlear implant. Unlike hearing aids, the cochlear implant bypasses the damaged parts of the auditory system and directly stimulates the hearing nerve, allowing the child to hear sounds.

After the medical evaluation has been completed, children with hearing loss are enrolled in HELP so that a customized therapy program tailored to the child’s individual strengths and needs can be implemented. Both multisensory and auditory–verbal approaches to speech and language therapy are offered. The goal of the HELP staff is to teach children to communicate with the help of their hearing aids or cochlear implants by using speech and visual cues to optimize their speaking and listening skills.

The role of the family is critical in a hearing-impaired child’s development of communication skills. Therefore, every effort is made to include family members in the learning process through workshops and one-on-one counseling with members of the HELP staff.

If you have a child who may have a significant hearing impairment, please contact the Hough Ear Institute at (405) 973-1716 so that an appropriate medical evaluation can be initiated.

HELP Services

• Complimentary consultation
• Comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation
• Individualized treatment plan for each child and family
• Aggressive monitoring of hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices
• Cochlear implant (re)habilitation
• Family counseling and consultations
• Educational support and consultation services with schools and teachers
• Referral to community resources.