The term “fluctuating hearing loss” refers to hearing loss that frequently changes. It is often associated with a feeling of fullness in the ear as well as tinnitus. In this article we review the causes of fluctuating hearing loss, its effect on speech and language development, its social-emotional impact and the importance of seeking treatment.
What Are the Causes of Fluctuating Hearing Loss?
There are many potential causes of fluctuating hearing loss, including:
- Impacted earwax
- Ear infections
- Noise exposure
- Meniere’s disease
- Autoimmune ear disease
- Auditory neuropathy
- Enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome
How Does Fluctuating Hearing Loss Impact Speech and Language Development?
When a young child can’t hear well, it can result in a delay in speech and language acquisition. The reason for this is because children rely on their sense of hearing to learn how to pronounce words and form grammatical sentences. Signs of fluctuating hearing loss related to speech and language include a child making a lot of speech errors and being hard to understand.
In addition, having a reduced ability to hear can impact a child’s performance both in school and at Boys & Girls Club of Central Arizona. Children can become exhausted from straining to hear, which is known as listening fatigue. In noisy classroom environments, a child may miss important instructions and have a hard time participating.
How Does Fluctuating Hearing Loss Affect Social-Emotional Development?
It’s common for children with fluctuating hearing loss to be told that they “hear only what they want to hear” or that they:
- Have attention problems
- Are insecure
- Are easily distracted
- Are immature
- Don’t participate
- Have low self-esteem
Unfortunately, dismissing hearing problems like this can delay treatment during important developmental years.
How to Manage Fluctuating Hearing Loss
Educators and parents should know the signs of hearing loss and take action right away, especially if academic performance is affected.
In some cases, the hearing loss can be treated medically, like in the case of earwax impaction or chronic ear infections. In cases of permanent sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids are the gold standard treatment.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a pediatric hearing expert, call Prescott ENT today.