hearing tests for newborn babies

Handling Hearing Aids With Care

Getting your hearing aids prescription is just the start of your journey! You have to handle them with proper care, too, not only because these can be expensive but, more importantly, because these are crucial for your enjoyment of a better quality of life.

 

General Tips

 

Always use the proper tools for the job! A wax pick and brush are a must for removing earwax buildup at the ends of the hearing aids; letting it be can result in a whistling effect that, when left unresolved, can damage the receiver.

 

Avoid exposing your hearing aids in water and other fluids. Wash your face, take a shower or a bath, and swim without your hearing aids since soap and water can damage them. Get them out, too, when you’re applying hair products like gels and sprays since these can also cause damage.

 

Clean your hearing aids every day, preferably before going to bed. This way, they have several hours to air out, so to speak. But don’t used alcohol and other chemicals when cleaning them.

 

Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures, too. Too hot days in winter and too cold temperatures in summer can warp them so leave them inside the house where they can be protected from the elements.

 

Place them in a dedicated container, too. You don’t want them being squashed or warped by the weight of other objects.  Keep them out of reach of children, if you’re an adult user, too.

 

Care for ITE Hearing Aids

 

In the ear hearing aids require special care and these steps should help.

 

  • Be sure to clean the openings, such as the microphone ports, with a soft brush; use either the brush provided in the hearing aids kit or a clean soft-bristle brush to remove the wax buildup.
  • Hold a hearing aid with its opening (i.e., the one being cleaned) so it faces downward; it will help in dislodging loose particles inside.
  • Clear stubborn particles using either wax pick or hook.
  • Wipe the device with either a tissue or a clean, dry cloth; a microfiber cloth will suffice.

 

Care for BTE Hearing Aids

 

Behind the ear hearing aids have earmolds that require cleaning, too, so these steps are more appropriate.

 

  • Clean the device just as you would with the ITE hearing aids except for the earmolds.
  • Remove the earmold from the hook prior to cleaning it. Wipe them using a clean, soft and dry cloth daily as well as soak them in warm, soapy water once a week; this will prevent stains and discolorations. Allow them to dry completely after soaking, preferably overnight, before using them again; don’t use other chemicals including alcohol on them.

 

If you notice a strong odor coming from your hearing aids, you should check with your ear doctor since it can be a sign of an ear infection.

 

If you think you need a hearing aid, make sure that you get a hearing aid prescription. Also note that the programs on these devices may be modified, but ask your ENT doctor first before making any changes. We are specialist of hearing test and assessment and provide hearing aid prescription.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

What Types of Hearing Tests Done on Newborn Babies

According to law, a newborn hearing test is mandated by law in all 50 states of the United States, a law that further mandates it before a newborn can leave the hospital. In our previous article, we just talked about why a newborn hearing test so necessary even without law in other countries. Here will talk about the types of hearing tests done on newborn babies.

 

 

Please don’t worry parents as a newborn hearing test doesn’t involve injections and the like. Both types of newborn hearing tests are painless so much so that these will not affect your baby’s deep sleep. You and your baby’s pediatrician will agree which of the two types of tests will be suitable for your baby.

 

Types of Tests Done

 

Keep in mind that these hearing screening tests should be done in a hospital and conducted by a trained technician, usually an audiologist. This is because a newborn baby’s hearing system is as fragile as can be, and any loud sound can damage it.

 

  • Otoacoustic emission (OAE) test records the tiny sounds made by the inner ear in response to the chirps or clicks made by a small, flexible plug placed in a newborn baby’s ear. Each ear will be tested in turn with each passing test regarded as a confirmation that the inner ear is receiving the auditory stimulation.

 

  • Automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) test records the auditory nerves’ activity when the clicks or chirps are delivered through the plug. It requires the placement of small electrodes tapes to the infant’s scalp – the electrodes are harmless and hypoallergenic – that confirms brain activity in response to the auditory stimulation.

 

Aside from these screening tests, parents are well-advised to let their babies undergo them as a precautionary measure. In case of hearing-related issues, the appropriate measures can be done as early as possible, and we know the importance of early intervention in children.

 

Follow-up Test May Be Needed

 

But what happens if your baby doesn’t pass, so to speak, the hearing test? Don’t worry too much about it since a significant number of newborns fail their initial hearing test for a natural reason – fluid is likely still present in the ear canal, a natural post-birth occurrence.

 

The pediatric audiologist will schedule a follow-up test in the next couple of weeks; by then, the fluid in the ear canal should be gone. Most infants, furthermore, pass their foll0w-up test but for those who don’t pass it, a diagnostic hearing test will be made to investigate the matter further.

 

The hearing tests performed for infants differ depending on their age, too. Older children who respond to external sounds usually have a different test than for infants, for example, while teens and adults usually have the same hearing screening exams.

 

Even with hearing issues, a pediatric audiologist can work with the baby’s parents to find the best solution. Indeed, with the modern audiology technology we have today, there’s always hope for a treatment. If there’s no treatment, then there are other methods by which a child can enjoy life to the fullest with the assistance of parents, doctors, and therapists.

 

If you think your infant need a hearing test, please contact us for further consulation. We are a Hong Kong hearing & speech centre offering hearing test & assessment and hearing aid prescription.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing aid prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

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HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Rm 02, 5/F.,
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