The Connection Between Autism And Hearing Loss

Autism is a behavioral, neurological disorder. Those with this disorder often have a hard time with social interaction and communication skills. Autism affects each individual in different sorts of ways. This is why it is now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. It better describes the different issues with the disorder. In some cases, hearing loss may have a connection to Autism. In fact, some people may think their child has Autism when, in fact, they are dealing with hearing loss.

Autism Or Hearing Loss

If your child has Autism, they may have impaired social behaviors. They may prefer to be alone and prefer not to make eye contact. They may have issues with language development too. These symptoms can also happen if your child has hearing loss.

If your child has the following symptoms, take them to see an audiologist and an ASD specialist.

• No interest in social interaction.
• Repetitive language.
• Repetitive gestures.
• Fixation on particular objects or details.
• No imagination.

Sound Sensitivity And Autism

Some children that have Autism may suffer from another issue called hyperacusis. This is a hypersensitivity to sounds at a certain volume or frequency. To figure out if this is going on with your child, you will need to figure out which sounds your child is sensitive to. After you have figured this out, your specialist can develop a treatment plan for your child. Treatment options include wearing noise-canceling headphones and finding a quiet place.

Hearing Loss Screenings

If your child has signs of hearing loss with Autism, have their hearing care specialist do a few tests. These tests include:

• Aural heath review. This test will include doing a physical check of the ear to look for any issues. They will also do blood tests to check lead levels. Your child will also have a test to see if there is chronic fluid in the ear.
• Tympanogram. This tests the middle ear and includes checking the eardrum for responsiveness.
• Otoacoustic Emissions Testing. This hearing test will look for the movement in the tiny hairs of the cochlea. This test is great for infants and children who have limited communication abilities.
• Standard audiometry. This is a standard hearing test where your child will have exposure to a variety of sounds. When your child hears the sound, they will need to give a response. This will show what sounds your child can process.
• Auditory Brainstem Response. This test will measure the functions of the inner ear. During this test, there will be electrodes placed on your child’s scalp to measure sound waves. This test is perfect for those children who have communication difficulties.

Call Us Today

If you have a child that has signs of hearing loss and you want to have it looked at, call Chicago Beltone today. Our team of friendly hearing care specialists will work with you and your child. We will determine if there is hearing loss and come up with a treatment plan to best care for your child.