Audiology Update
Presented on Thursday, 25 November 2010
Tinnitus in Children and Young Adults
How it Impacts Education Delivery
Dawn Lamerton
Prevalence
- BTA state approx 10% of the population
- Other papers, 1 in 22 in the states, Sweden approx 12% of children
Under-reported in children
- If perceived from early childhood will not know not everyone experiences tinnitus though will report it accurately if asked
- If acquired will notice and report it
What is Tinnitus?
Sensation of hearing a noise in the absence of an external sound
- 1, both or middle of the head
- Low, medium or high frequency
- One or more noises
- Permanent or fluctuating
- With or without hearing loss
What causes tinnitus?
- Not a disease
- Not an illness
- It is a symptom generated within a persons auditory system
What can we do?
- Reassurance
- Explanation
- Hope
- Sound generators
- Hearing Aids
- Avoidance of silence
- Relaxation
Today's Queries
1)Tinnitus and our aided children within an education environment
- Majority of children do not seem overly distressed by tinnitus
- Most will complain when it is at its most intrusive
- Aiding is most effective
2) Does tinnitus affect how a hearing aid works or performs acoustically?
- No but it can affect concentration
- But why is there a hearing loss?
3) How can you tell a child has tinnitus?
You can't you need to ask
Non-Aided children
- Oncology
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)