May is Better Speech and Hearing month! All my kids had speech issues… of course this was linked to their ear issues. Thank Goodness I know a great AUDIOLOGIST! 🙂
Ear infections, tubes, ENT visits all have been part of my life with pretty much each of my boys. I can not stress the importance of getting their hearing and eyes checked regularly. It does not hurt and can make such a huge difference.
FUN FACTS
Cicadas have their hearing organs in their stomachs.
Crickets have their hearing organs in their knees.
Male mosquitoes hear with thousands of tiny hairs growing on their antennae.
Fish do not have ears but they can hear. They hear pressure changes through ridges on their bodies.
Snakes do not have ears, but their tongues are sensitive to sound vibrations.
In World War One (WWI) parrots were kept on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France because of their remarkable sense of hearing. When the Parrots heard the enemy aircraft coming they would warn everyone of the approaching danger long before any human ear would hear it.
CHILDHOOD HEARING LOSS
The vast majority of hospitals now offer newborn hearing screening before discharge from the hospital.
All children should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age.
85% of all children experience at least one ear infection.
Second-hand smoke in the home increases the risk of middle ear infections and respiratory allergies in children.
Infants may begin to use hearing aids as early as 2-4 months of age.
Federal laws mandate that all school districts must provide specialized education to children with hearing loss.
Even a mild hearing loss can seriously impact a child’s ability to learn in a school environment.
PREVALENCE OF HEARING LOSS & DEMOGRAPHICS
1 out of 10 Americans have a hearing loss — that’s more than 31,000,000 people.
3 out of 1000 children are born with hearing loss.
1.4 million children have hearing loss.
15% of “baby-boomers” (ages 45-64) have hearing loss.
29% of people over age 65 have hearing loss.
The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
The majority (60%) of people with hearing loss are males.
Hey.. Get your hearing checked out! If you are local… get a free hearing test @ The Ear Company (705) 741-1114 by mentioning this blog. (This clinic is in Peterborough or Port Hope Ontario)!