(NAPSA)—Earinfections will affect two-thirds of youngsters at least once in theirlives, causing tem- porary hearing loss, and recurring ear infections which can cause permanent damage. Knowingjust a few facts about ear infections can help parents protect their children’s hearing andtheir ability to learn. Ear infections usually occur after the child has had a cold or respiratory infection. Bacteria is the culprit, causing the middle ear to fill with fluid and resulting in a temporary mild to moderate hearing loss which can last three months. Even the common cold can cause some hearing loss and children have an alarming six to twelve colds a year. The most commonsigns are ear pain or fever. The child may be less attentive, need the television louder, have trouble with balance, or pull absent-mindedly athis ear. Unfortunately, ear infections strike just as children are learning language and may delay language development and comprehension. Fortunately, technology in our schools has madeit easy to compensate for temporary hearingloss. Sound field systems that gently amplify the teacher's voice have been shownto help students pay attention, increase comprehension, and develop language andliteracy skills. The teacher simply wears a microphoneandprojects her voice through speakersso kids with mild to moderate hearing impairment won’t miss out. Even children without ear infec- Amplification in the classroom can compensatefor the hearing loss experienced with ear infections. tions show marked improvement. Unfortunately, a lot of schools still don’t know about soundfield, or see it as a luxury item in these budget-conscious times. In one recent study, a school in Utah amplified three first-grade classrooms with students prone to ear infections. Before amplifica- tion, only 44-48 percent of the kids scored at least “basic” level on core curriculum, but after seven months of sound field, 74 percent of students scored at “basic” and above. They continued to be successful into the second grade. One good resource for parents to learn more about schools, sound field, and hearing loss is www. phonicear.com. Phonic Ear, a manufacturer of sound field systems, offers general information as well as scientific studies and funding tools at their Web site. The factis, all the sophisticated teaching in the world won’t help because if kids can’t hear, they can’t learn.
