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In today’s digital world, headphones and earbuds are as common in a child’s backpack as lunchboxes and water bottles. Whether it’s for online learning, gaming, or listening to music, kids are spending more time than ever with audio devices plugged into their ears. But while these tools offer convenience and entertainment, they also pose a growing risk to children's hearing health. According to a recent article in The Globe and Mail, experts are increasingly concerned about th

A recent scientific breakthrough is raising hope for millions of people with hearing loss—especially here in Alberta. According to a new study, a single injection of a “gene therapy” jab was able to reverse certain types of hearing loss in just weeks. What the Study Found As reported in an article by The Independent, researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with Chinese hospitals and universities, treated both children and adults who had congenital de

The medical community has been trialling gene therapy as a treatment for genetic deafness since 2019. Last year, a deaf British toddler named Opal received an infusion of corrected genes into her inner ear. Her parents noticed changes in her hearing within 4 weeks, and obvious improvements within twenty-four. Our team of pediatric audiologist at Soundwave Hearing Care in Calgary find this exciting and want to share more information with you about the promising future of gene

Are you a parent who has a child with hearing loss? While it may be tempting to let your child take a break from their hearing devices on the weekends or during the summer, consistent auditory input is necessary for your child’s development. Here are six reasons why your child needs to wear their hearing aids all the time. It improves language learning. Hearing aids are vital in improving language learning in children with hearing loss. Children with hearing loss have a small

When hearing loss occurs in children, it can have a profound impact on how they learn language, their social development and overall quality of life. It's crucial to be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss and to obtain an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. With timely intervention, your child can achieve their maximum potential. Signs of hearing loss in children Parents and caregivers need to be vigilant about recognizing the signs of hearing impairment. Common signs o

Hearing loss in children can have a significant impact on their overall development and quality of life. As a parent or caregiver, it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss in children. Here’s what you need to know. What to keep an eye on One of the most noticeable indicators of hearing loss in children is a decrease in their responsiveness to voices and sounds. If you notice that your child isn’t reacting to familiar voices or sounds, it could be a

Hearing is one of the most important senses for children. It allows them to learn language, socially interact and participate in activities. However, children's hearing is more vulnerable to damage than adults’ and requires special protection. Here’s why it’s essential to provide children with hearing protection. How To Provide Hearing Protection for Children at Different Stages Children of varying ages require different levels and types of hearing protection. Infants and tod

Hearing loss in children can vary from minimal to profound. Unfortunately, some children struggle in classroom settings for years due to undetected hearing problems. If you’re a teacher or work with groups of children, you can facilitate learning success for your hard-of-hearing students by equipping them with the tools they need to learn. Here’s a guide to the subtle signs of hearing loss and some techniques to support your hearing-impaired students. Signs of hearing impair

Hearing loss is more common in young people than you think. The Canadian Health Measures Survey found that 8 per cent of children and youth aged six to 19 have hearing loss. Here is some important information to know about hearing impairment in children. The facts Hearing sounds and words helps children learn to speak and understand language. Consequently, even minimal untreated hearing loss can cause speech and language developmental delays. Hearing difficulties for school a

Noise pollution in urban environments is a growing problem worldwide. Vehicles, airplanes and construction noise can compound and create significant cacophony our everyday lives. When that noise permeates the classrooms of our schools, it can have a detrimental effect on children’s learning and memory. Here’s what the latest research shows. The study Researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health wanted to study the effects of noise pollution on students in a classr

Hearing loss can happen at any age. However, children with impaired hearing may struggle to develop speech, language and social skills. According to Statistics Canada, eight per cent of kids and teens between the ages of six and 19 have moderate to severe hearing loss. Here’s what you need to know about hearing loss in children. Causes of hearing loss in children Due to genetic factors, some babies are born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, others develop SNHL

Being a parent, you’re probably aware there’s a big difference between when your kids hear you and when they listen to you. But did you know that, in addition to promoting good behaviour, listening plays a crucial role in a child’s development and learning? Here’s a look at the importance of listening and the effects of hearing impairments. Important hearing milestones for children Children learn and understand the sounds they hear at an increasingly rapid rate. Here are some

Modern technology has changed the way kids learn. Apps made for smartphones and tablets offer useful resources for children in a variety of special situations. If you're the parent of a hard-of-hearing child, it's important you give them the best tools to help them develop their communication skills. These are the best apps for children with hearing difficulties. All of them are available for iOS and Android devices. Language games These apps will help build your child's lang

Hearing loss in children is of particular concern today, owing to the widespread use of personal audio devices. In response to this growing issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the World Hearing Forum (WHF), an advocacy network that promotes ear and hearing care. To prevent hearing loss in your own children, you must take the necessary precautions. Here are four things every parent should do. 1. Educate your kids about hearing loss Instill in your children t

Now that the kids are back in school, it's important to make sure that they're getting the support they need to succeed. If your child is having trouble understanding speech or other types of sounds, you should take them to a hearing clinic that offers auditory processing assessments. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) affects 5 per cent of school-age children and can negatively impact a child's ability to thrive in a traditional classroom. What is Auditory Processing Disorde

A child with auditory processing disorder (APD) does not have the same auditory processing skills as a normal child. Children with APD cannot recognize a word's multiple meanings and they have difficulty understanding language during a conversation. If something is meant to be funny or as a pun, a child with APD may have difficulty distinguishing that during normal conversation. That is because a child with APD lacks metalinguistic skills. Just because a child has APD does no

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition that affects how speech is heard and understood. Auditory Processing Disorder in Children In children with APD, there is a disconnect in the way that the ears and the brain coordinate with one another, making it difficult for them to process sounds in the same way as children without APD. Children with APD can have problems with their metaliguistic skills and their language dexterity. What exactly does this mean for how APD af