Ear Problems in Children

What to Do to Insure Your Child's Good Hearing

Earaches are very common in children under three years of age. Many of these result from common colds. Too much fluid can accumulate as a result of ear infections or allergies. When this happens, the eustachian tube can become blocked.

Ear infections can occur year-round. They occur in the cold season as well as the swimming season.

Parents are advised never to use items such as bobby pins to clean a child's ear. This might force the wax even deeper. If ear wax becomes a problem, it should be removed by a physician.

Any ear pain should be reported to a physician. Parents should never put any medications in the ear without first consulting a physician.

Dangers of Ignoring Ear Problems in Kids

Many important skills are learned during the optimal time of a child's formative years. If this opportunity is lost due to hearing loss, the child's learning can be slowed down. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell if a child is hearing well. As a result, hearing loss can be easily overlooked. They can be corrected, however, if caught in time.

Your child should be checked if he/she:

• Has an earache.
• Has a cold or fever that doesn't go away.
• Exhibits behavior causing you to suspect abnormal hearing.

Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be a permanent or temporary nature. It can be congenital or caused by factors occuring after birth. There are several warning signals of hearing problems.

Some Are:

• A serious illness experienced by the mother during pregnancy.
• The child's inability to talk by the age of two.
• Sleeping during loud noises that would waken a child of normal hearing.

What to Do

There are several things a parent can do to increase the chances his or her child will hear well. As noted earlier, it is unwise to put anything into the ear. This applies to Q-Tips as well as some of the home remedies used in the past to deal with hearing problems.

If your child complains of an earache or is seen pulling at the ear, don't ignore it. Contact a physician immediately. Children exposed to other kids in day care or school are more likely to get an ear infection.

Hearing loss does not have to be permanent. Acting quickly when warning signals do occur can increase the chances that your child will injoy a lifetime of healthy hearing!