August 11, 2009

PERRYVILLE - When you think back on your childhood, chances are there's a rich montage of sights and sounds that comes to mind. But, imagine if you couldn't have heard the ding of the ice cream truck or the sound of a barking dog - how would that have impacted the experiences of your youth?

Unfortunately, an increasing number of children, including children in the local area, are unnecessarily missing out on these cherished sounds. So, in honor of International Youth Day, which takes place tomorrow, the local hearing centers are urging parents to take note of some of the telltale signs of hearing loss in children.

"Untreated hearing loss among young people has been shown to lead to a host of social, emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties," said Rebecca Younk, audiologist for Miracle-Ear. "Fortunately, however, the earlier a child's hearing impairment is detected, the sooner treatment can begin and quality of life can be restored."

According to the Better Hearing Institute, an estimated 1.5 million people under the age of 21 have hearing loss that may be improved with amplification. Since such a large percentage of these young people are currently undiagnosed, Younk recommends adults in the area keep their eyes open for the following warning signs:

* Performance/Behavioral Issues in School - Sound plays a major role in speech and language development, so delays in these areas may signify a hearing impairment. Similarly, a limited attention span or behavioral outbursts can indicate that a child is having trouble hearing.

* Lack of Response - Be sure to take note of children who are not startled by intense sounds or do not respond to someone who is talking out of view. The inability to recognize the actual source of a particular sound is also a sign of hearing loss.

* General Confusion - Don't dismiss your child's frequent use of "huh?" or "what?" as just disinterest. This type of commonplace confusion can be a sign that the brain is having trouble focusing, which may mean that the child can't fully dial in to sounds and speaking.

* Constant Adjustments - Children who have trouble hearing make a habit of sitting close to the television or turning up music, even when it's at a level others can hear. Additionally, kids with hearing impairments tend to intently watch the faces of people who are speaking to them in order to fully comprehend.

"Some children's hearing losses are detected early in life; however, the majority of hearing impairments are not discovered until a child enters school," said Younk. "Since the first three years of life are critical to speech and language development, we recommend that parents have their children screened for hearing loss as early as possible and that they attend all follow-up evaluations."

Miracle-Ear has established a Children's Foundation to serve and support children who have a hearing loss. The foundation provides no-cost hearing aids and support to children whose families have incomes that are significantly limited and who are unable to afford the high costs of quality hearing instruments.

For more information on Miracle-Ear, please contact:

Joyce Hill-Cooley of Miracle-Ear Center of Perryville at (573) 547-2346

Joyce Hill-Cooley of Miracle-Ear Service Center of Sainte Genevieve at

(573) 883-8118

A trusted resource for hearing solutions for over 60 years, Miracle-Ear uses state-of-the-art technology to remove the barriers of hearing loss.

The Plymouth, Minn.-based company specializes in customizable hearing solutions that feature discreet, comfortable products designed to meet each individual's hearing loss needs. Free hearing tests and consultations are available at all of the company's 1,200 locations across the U.S., many of which are in Sears stores. Franchise opportunities are available for those interested in running their own Miracle-Ear business with the support of a nationwide industry leader.

For more information, visit www.miracle-ear.com.