Many parents of children who have hearing problems will tell you one thing – getting the right diagnosis for their child and the proper treatments and interventions was a long and frustrating process. You can understand why; it is quite stressful to learn that your child is developing hearing problems and if you cannot get them the right treatment immediately the feelings of stress can be compounded. Your GP or paediatrician may be helpful but there is only so much they can do. They do not have the necessary equipment to drill down to the cause of your child’s deafness. They may also not be aware of all the different treatments and coping methods available today for children who struggle with hearing loss.
The best thing you can do is to find an audiologist. This is a medical professional who specializes in auditory matters – they are trained to diagnose and treat hearing loss in both children and adults. There aren’t too many audiologists in the UK – many of them work for the public health system so you may find that they have long waiting times. If, however, you can find a private one they may be able to do a series of hearing tests on your child and get them started on treatments right away.
The important thing, once you realize that your child has hearing loss, is to be there for them. They may be ostracized by others in school because they are different so you should think about getting them into an environment where they fit in.
For more advice on how to help your child cope with hearing, and also for diagnosis and treatment you should make an appointment at Cheary, one of the leading audiologist clinics in the UK. Find out how to get in touch with them on their website, http://www.chears.co.uk/.
