Health Watch

Hearing aids for children

Lakna MENDIS

To get the best results out of a hearing aid, you and your child should meet a certified audiologist to learn what a hearing aid can and cannot do, and how to operate it.

It is important to understand how hearing aids work and how to select, operate and care for them. Properly working hearing aids and consistent use of hearing aids will help your child hear and develop good speech and language skills.

How does a hearing aid work?

All behind-the-ear hearing aids have a microphone, amplifiers and processors, a volume control, a tone hook, an earmould, an on/off switch, and a battery compartment.

The sound enters through the microphone, is amplified and shaped by the processor, and is directed out the tone hook and through the earmould into your child's ear.

The earmould is specifically made to the shape of your child's

ear. Earmoulds need to be replaced fairly often as your child's ear grows.

What kind of hearing aid is best for your child?

It is important to work with your audiologist and early intervention team to evaluate your child's needs. Since very young children cannot adjust their own hearing aids, the hearing aid selected for infants must be easily manipulated and monitored by parents and caregivers.

As your child grows and develops and can respond to more sophisticated tests, hearing aids are adjusted accordingly. Therefore, hearing aids that can be easily adjusted for frequency response, amount of amplification, and maximum limits of amplification are desirable. These devices are typically digital hearing aids.

In educational and home settings, children frequently connect their hearing aids to hearing assistive technology systems. Therefore, the hearing aid prescribed should have special features (telecoil and direct audio input capability) that will allow for this connection.

Several types of hearing aids are available; the appropriate type depends on your child's individual needs and skills. The behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid is the type of hearing and most commonly recommended for infants and young children for a number of reasons, including:

It accommodates various earmould types

The earmould detaches and can be easily remade as the child grows

The earmould is easy to handle and can be easily cleaned.

Parents and caregivers can easily do a listening check and make adjustments.

It can accommodate a wide variety of hearing losses.

It can be made with direct audio input or a telecoil, so it can be used with other listening devices.

The earmoulds are made of a soft maternal that is safer and more comfortable for tiny ears.

In-the-ear (ITE) styles are usually reserved for adults and older children. Once you have selected a hearing aid, the audiologist will carefully set the hearing aid using the results of your child's hearing tests.

Keeping hearing aids on your child

It is very important that children with hearing loss use their hearing aids as much as possible. A child who has been wearing hearing aids consistently since infancy will probably wear them without resistance. Children who have not been consistent hearing aid wearers may be more of a challenge.

Start by putting the hearing aids on your child while you are engaged in a fun activity and increase the amount of time until your child is wearing the hearing aids during all waking hours.

Young children should learn that only an adult should put the hearing aids on and take the hearing aids off. Older children may be more interested in their hearing aids if they are able to provide input into the color of their earmould or hearing aid.

There are several ways to secure the hearing aids to your child's ears. Some ideas include two-sided toupee tape, Huggie Aids, lightweight caps and headbands, fishing line and a safety pin, and hearing aid clips. Your audiologist will help you find the best method for your child.

Telomeres in human health

Dr. Senarath Tennakoon

Telomeres are specialised DNA sequences that are stretches of DNA found at the ends of chromosomes... A telomere consists of up to hundreds of copies of a short repeated sequence (5'-TTAGGG -3' in humans), which is synthesised by the enzyme telomerase in a mechanism independent of normal DNA replication.

The telomere DNA forms a special secondary structure. Its function is to protect the ends of chromosome from degeneration.

Elizabeth Blackburn, a professor of Biology and physiology, University of California, shared a Nobel Prize in 2009 for her work on telomeres and their links with human health.

Telomere length can be an indicator of one's health status as shortening is observed in aging and in some diseased conditions like heart diseases and cancer. Bone marrow failure too has caused a shortening of the telomeres. Further, chronic high stress and smoking too are among the risk factors that could lead to shortening of telomeres. As such changes in one's lifestyle would lead to better health.

A simple test for checking the length of telomeres from a sample of blood has been devised. It measures the telomere length of white blood corpuscles. But it can be performed with any cell type for instance on samples taken from saliva or buckle mucosa.

Causes of indigestion

S R Balachandran

Last month a friend of mine (45 years old) had a severe chest pain irritating and burning session in the food path. However, the doctors confirmed that there was no heart attack and it was mainly due to continued indigestion which could be cured by proper eating habits.

Reasons:

a. Fast eating - gobbling without proper chewing
b. Continued tension
c. Intake of spicy, oily, animal fatty, fast foods in plenty
d. Inadequate intake of water
e. Intake of water whilst having meals
f. Bad eating habits - heavy dinner, eating between 11.00 pm. and 3.00am
g. Lack of exercises
h. Obesity
i. Consumption of liquor, smoke etc.
j. Taking of strong drugs violating doctor's instructions (eg. Taking them in the empty stomach) in the morning.

There is a valve between our food path and the stomach. It opens and closes when we are in the process of eating. The valve will remain opened if spicy, oily, and indigestible food is taken in excess. In this case partly indigested food and the acid in the stomach will get vomited through the mouth, thereby burning the food path.

This strong acid, if swallowed frequently results in ulcer, holes in the intestine.

Prevention

* Lead a balanced life, Proper exercises, Rest (both body and mental), Good sleep etc.

* Draw backs mentioned in the previous paragraph be corrected. * Take adequate water (10 glasses per day)

* Avoid tea and coffee

* Never take soda, aerated waters and bottled, artificially sweetened drinks

* Take selected fruits (eg. Plantains) and vegetables

* Take adequate milk, butter milk and selected natural fruit juices

* Meditation is good, breathing exercises are excellent, In Yoga it is called Pranayamam and Chi kung in Chinese.

* Keep the body weight under control

* Create a sense of humor and keep your mind relaxed.

Twenty years dedicated to counselling

Pandula Caldera

In 1974 Joan de Mel, a Befriender from Samaritans UK, married to late Bishop Lakdasa de Mel founded Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, initially in Colombo. It was at the request of a number of Doctors from the General Hospital Colombo, who were distressed at the many attempted suicides in the hospital.

The organization was incorporated by Act of Parliament No. 10 of 1986 under section 3 (d) empowering it to set up branches.

The branch in Kandy was established in 1978 and Bandarawela established in 1991. At the same time the need for a Centre South of Colombo was felt.

Two committed Volunteers from Moratuwa working at Colombo decided to look for a place in Moratuwa or Panadura. An old house with a large garden, was located on Galle Road Panadura a part of which was taken on rent and the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo fourth Branch was set up at Panadura, 20 years ago in August 1991. Since Panadura is the only Centre along the coast, South of Colombo, it has a comparatively large reach.

A Senior Volunteer transferred temporarily from Colombo, trained us in the skills of listening and befriending and together with another Volunteer, functioned as founder Co-Directors. Of the initial core group of 13 volunteers, we are proud to say that 7 volunteers are still on roll.

After 10 years we built and moved into our own premises in 2001, in the adjoining block of land donated by a well-wisher. They are open 365 days of the year from 9 am to 3 pm. Their membership varies between 25 and 30 volunteers at any given time.

Their volunteers are specially trained. Their service is completely free of charge. They maintain 100% Non Judgmental Caller Confidentiality with no religious or political affiliations. Their funding is entirely local, thanks to donors who help them from time to time and fund raisers such as sales and musical shows.

Befriending is done face to face, over the phone, or by letter. At the Base Hospital Panadura, persons who have attempted suicide are befriended by them trained for Hospital befriending. Outreach in the form of programs for Schools, Children's homes and Elders' homes are also a part of their work.

They have found very often, that a sympathetic listening ear is all that a distressed person really wants. This unconditional emotional support is a soothing balm much more potent than expensive medication, to those passing through an emotional crisis and who may be in danger of taking their own lives. No one is ever turned away. Their committed volunteers often stay well past closing time when required. Clock watching is not in their books!

So what do they gain from this exercise? Learning and immense self-growth, which money cannot buy, or get from a book. The look of happiness on the faces of a couple who came perhaps thinking of a divorce and have decided to stay together is often their reward! If they have managed to avert a suicidal person from swallowing grammoxone, they have saved a valuable life.

Over the years they have changed and become better human beings, mothers and fathers have become Grands, and their priorities have also changed. One volunteer remarked, “I should have joined Sumithrayo before I got married – then I would have raised my children differently.” They do take long leave, but are drawn to return to serve. That is the love they have for the organisation and the unfailing commitment of their volunteers.

We can now look objectively at ourselves and admit to our many faults. They have learnt the value of time. They are much more humble, their own troubles seem trifling when compared to with what they hear from their callers.

They tend to be more patient and are better able to handle negative emotions like anger, hatred and jealousy.

Dilemmas of HIV patients

S R Balachandran

It could be observed sexual violence/abuses on woman and children and homosexuality, lesbianism are on the increase all over the world including Sri Lanka. On a survey taken in the USA it is revealed that 5% lesbianism among young girls of 17 in 2002 has increased to 11% in 2010.

In Sri Lanka proper statistics are not available as homosexually is illegal. Several countries had recognized homosexually as legal and marriages are also allowed in churches. In India supreme courts had ruled out that homosexuality should not be considered as illegal. We may face similar situation shortly requesting for recognition and our religious leaders intellectual, social workers should come to a firm decision. It should be noted that homosexuality is also cause HIV.

HIV rate in Sri Lanka is increasing. Regrettably it appears that our people are not well aware of the danger of HIV and are reluctant to use safely measures.

In a recent survey taken in UK it was revealed that the younger generation does not prefer to use safety measures in sex (it is like chewing a wrapped chocolate)

I quote below problems faced by HIV patients

1. No cure is available (like hypertension, heart ailments, diabetes : it could be controlled with expensive drugs)

2. Agony faced at the latter stage is terrible

3. Hatred by the society - I understand in Sri Lanka some villages attempted to set fire to the house of HIV patient who received same from her husband

4. Innocent children are badly affected

5. No job opportunities though services of HIV patients could not be terminated but however co-workers will not prefer to cooperate with them.

6. Raped victims face the danger of HIV - they have to be given expensive medical treatment before any other action.

7. No sympathy from others even from medical staff in the hospital - in a survey in India HIV patients complain that they face harassment in the hands of medical staff who consider them as animals.

8. Blood transfers become unsafe. There are well-known cases in Sri Lanka.

9. Some HIV patients prefer to spread to other as revenge against the society.

It is the duty of the parents to educate their children. In UK parents teach their children about good touch and bad touch. You should watch children's behaviour and should take early action.

In India there was a proposal to obtain medical certificate before marriage showing that both parties are clear of HIV. However, this was overruled due to the following reasons.

1. Bogus certificates are possible

2. A person who is clear of HIV now may receive it after sometime

3. Undue publicity could be given for the victims.

However, some Indians Hindu temple insists on this certificate to have weddings in their halls - good move.

Therefore I appeal to the younger generation to lead a clean life (no smoke, no drinks, no drugs and no unsafe sex) for a healthy future.