Types of Hearing Loss and Impairment in Children

There are 3 main types of hearing loss:

1. Conductive hearing loss;

2. Sensorineural hearing loss;

3. Mixed hearing loss.

The ear has 3 parts, each with its own task. The outer ear collects sound and sends it to the middle ear. There, the sound becomes a vibration. These vibrations travel to the inner ear, where tiny "hair cells" (cilia) and the auditory nerve convert the vibrations into nerve impulses (signals). These signals are sent to the brain. The brain then determines which ear the sound came from. With hearing loss, a temporary blockage or permanent problem in the ear or brain prevents sounds from being heard or understood.

Ⅰ. The conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss is common in children. Children with conductive hearing loss can affect one or both ears. In order for someone to hear, sound signals must travel from outside the ear through the ear canal and eardrum into the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is partially or completely blocked in the outer or middle ear. Some reasons may include:

1. Fluid accumulation behind the eardrum (usually a complication of repeated ear infections);

2. Wax accumulation in the ear canal;

3. Eardrum problems;

4. Infection;

5. Growth;

6. Abnormal formation of ear bones;

7. Objects stuck in the ear canal, such as food or toy parts.

Conductive hearing loss is usually temporary and can be improved with medical or surgical procedures. Once the blockage or problem is resolved, hearing usually returns to normal. If fluid accumulation behind the eardrum is the cause, a thin tube can be inserted into the eardrum to help drain the fluid.

Ⅱ. The causes of conductive hearing loss in children

The ear consists of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Problems with the outer and middle ear can lead to conductive hearing loss - the difficulty of transmitting sound through the ear to the brain. Inner ear problems can lead to neuropathic hearing loss, in which the auditory nerve responsible for hearing is damaged. Although rarer, the second type of hearing loss is more difficult to treat.

There are many causes of hearing loss in infants and children, including specific conditions (some of which are inherited), infections, and injuries.

The bone conduction technology in Lavoli music lollipops transmits sound through the bones, just as sound transmits the skull to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum. This technology is used in popular bone conduction headphones and bone conduction glasses.