The Child’s Hearing Impairment – The Third Part of Boróka’s True Story

The childhood is a crucial stage in which various aspects of development, such as speech and hearing, fundamentally determine future communication abilities. As parents, we all desire for our children to develop healthily and for professionals to detect any issues early on. Parents typically do a lot to ensure their children’s proper development, including regular medical check-ups. However, sometimes recognizing problems is not so straightforward, and delays in diagnosis can lead to more serious consequences.

Recognizing hearing problems is particularly important, as hearing is the foundation of communication. If a child does not hear well, it affects not only their speech development but also their social interactions and learning. The medical community is continually working to detect hearing impairments as early as possible, but subjective assessments can sometimes be misleading. This story also highlights that during hearing tests, children often perceive sounds but do not necessarily respond to them, which can lead to misunderstandings.

Boróka’s Story: The Hidden Hearing Problem

Boróka’s case is particularly noteworthy, as the little girl came under medical care at the age of three after her mother had long suspected issues with her hearing. During the initial medical examinations, specialists found no hearing loss, as Boróka showed excellent results in various hearing tests. During subjective tests, she always responded appropriately to sounds, which was reassuring for both parents and doctors. However, the situation became more complicated when Boróka’s hearing dramatically improved after her brother’s nasal surgery, and she began to respond more loudly to family members.

At this point, Boróka was taken to a specialist again, where more serious suspicions about her hearing arose. The doctor’s opinion was that Boróka was too engrossed in her activities, which might explain her slow response to sounds. However, the little girl consistently reported outstanding hearing during further examinations, complicating the diagnosis. The specialists believed that Boróka was merely daydreaming and not noticing the sounds, so her hearing problem remained hidden for a long time.

The Challenges of Subjective Hearing Tests

During subjective hearing tests, children must indicate if they hear any sounds. In these tests, Boróka consistently achieved excellent results, meaning that specialists could not determine her hearing loss. Many in the medical community believe that children can manipulate the tests, especially if the expectations of the examiners are visible on their faces. Boróka also discovered this phenomenon and often knew exactly when to indicate that she heard the sounds.

This situation serves as a warning that subjective hearing tests are not always reliable, and professionals must consider children’s behavior as well. Children often do not understand when they should respond, and the praise they receive for good answers can further confuse them. It is particularly important for parents and doctors to communicate with each other and understand that assessing children’s hearing is a complex process that depends on multiple factors.

The Importance of Early Detection

Early detection of hearing loss is essential for children’s development. In Hungary, hearing tests for newborns are part of routine examinations; however, many professionals believe that comprehensive hearing screening would be crucial for babies. Early diagnosis provides an opportunity for children to receive appropriate development support and avoid later communication difficulties.

In Boróka’s case, during subjective tests, she often felt that she had to perform tasks and frequently tried to reassure her mother by indicating that she heard the sounds. This situation highlights that children need to learn the difference between perceiving sounds and actual hearing. Parents should pay attention to their children’s behavior and reactions to detect problems in a timely manner.

Even during speech therapy assessments, professionals may make mistakes. Boróka’s speech therapist did not suspect a hearing problem because the little girl was able to read lips and repeat words, even though she had never heard them. If the speech therapist had covered her mouth while speaking, it would likely have become clearer that something was wrong.

Boróka’s story illustrates that recognizing hearing problems is not always a straightforward task, and collaboration among parents, doctors, and therapists is crucial for children’s development. Timely intervention can help prevent later difficulties and ensure healthy development for children.