Common questions
Short answers first. Open any question for the full one.
How do we hear?Sound travels through the outer, middle and inner ear — but it is the brain that makes sense of it.
Hearing is the process of sound travelling through the outer, middle and inner ear, but it is our brain that interprets what we hear. Each part of the ear plays a critical role in transmitting sound, and our natural hearing depends on all of them working together. A problem anywhere along the way can cause hearing loss.
Outer ear
- The part you can see (the pinna) and the ear canal.
Middle ear
- The eardrum and three tiny connected bones — the ossicles, often called the hammer, anvil and stirrup.
Inner ear
- The snail-shaped cochlea and the hearing nerve, plus the semicircular canals that help with balance.
Why should hearing loss in children be treated early?Hearing shapes a child’s emotional, social and intellectual development.
As a parent, you always want the best for your child. Hearing plays a huge part in their emotional, social and intellectual development.
Early treatment may put your child’s progress on par with their hearing peers — giving them an equal opportunity to excel in life. A hearing screening for newborns is important to avoid any unnecessary delay in treatment.
What are the signs of hearing loss in adults?Mishearing, withdrawing from conversation, a louder TV, ringing in the ears.
Hearing loss usually arrives gradually, so the first signs are often noticed by family before the person themselves.
While talking with others
- You strain to hear or struggle to keep up with conversations
- It is difficult to hear amongst background noise
- You often ask people to repeat what they’ve said
- You mishear what people say
- You agree or nod when you’re not sure what was said
- You withdraw from conversations because it’s too difficult
- You read lips to understand what people are saying
- People seem to be mumbling
During everyday activities
- It is difficult to hear on the phone
- You turn the TV or radio louder than others prefer
- You can’t hear rain falling or birds chirping
When you’re alone
- A persistent ringing or buzzing in your ear
- It is hard to hear on one side
- It is difficult to tell where sounds are coming from
- Your own voice sounds different
- Pain or pressure in one or both ears
What can cause speech and language delay?From prematurity and hearing loss to neurological and genetic conditions.
Possible causes of communication and swallowing disorders include:
- Neonatal problems — prematurity, low birth weight, substance exposure
- Developmental disabilities — specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder
- Auditory problems — hearing loss or deafness
- Oral anomalies — cleft lip or palate, dental malocclusion, macroglossia, oral-motor dysfunction
- Respiratory compromise — bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Pharyngeal anomalies — upper airway obstruction, velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Laryngeal anomalies — vocal fold pathology, tracheal stenosis, tracheostomy
- Neurological conditions — traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, ALS
- Psychiatric disorders — psychosis, schizophrenia
- Genetic disorders — Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome
How can I take care of my hearing?Protect your ears from loud noise and get them checked when something changes.
Simple habits prevent many hearing problems:
- Use ear plugs around loud noise
- Keep the volume moderate when listening to music
- Give your ears time to recover after loud noise
- Use ear medication only as advised by a doctor
- Keep your ears dry after a bath or a swim
- Get regular check-ups if you are facing hearing issues
How do I take care of my hearing aids?Keep them clean, dry, safe from children and pets — and leave repairs to an expert.
Protect them from dirt
- Make sure your fingers are clean and dry before touching your hearing aid. The microphone input is very small and is easily blocked by improper handling.
Protect them from moisture
- Remove your aids before showering, bathing or swimming, and don’t leave them in the bathroom. Moisture and condensation can damage the electronics.
Keep them away from children and pets
- Store aids out of reach. Removed aids that are still switched on emit high sounds that can aggravate some dogs.
Avoid hairspray and make-up
- Fine particles can clog the microphone input and volume control. Remove your aids before using body-care products.
Keep them somewhere safe
- When not in use, keep aids in the drying set, and carry them in their case. If you won’t use them for a while, remove the batteries.
Leave repairs to an expert
- Screwdrivers and oil are the enemies of hearing aids. The technology is delicate — contact Shaba for repairs.
Speech & hearing milestones
Pick an age to see what most children are doing. Adapted from the NIDCD checklist.
By 2 years, most children:
Hearing & understanding
- Points to a few body parts when asked
- Follows simple commands and understands simple questions
- Points to pictures in a book when named
Talking
- Says more words every month
- Uses some one- or two-word questions
- Puts two words together — ‘more biscuit’
If your child isn’t doing most of these yet, a hearing and speech assessment is the right first step. Early help makes the biggest difference.
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