BackTable / ENT / Podcast / Episode #33
Single Sided Deafness in Children
with Dr. Anita Jeyakumar
We talk with Dr. Anita Jeyakumar about her approach to Single Sided Deafness in Children, including workup, treatment and long-term care.
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BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2021, October 12). Ep. 33 – Single Sided Deafness in Children [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com
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Podcast Contributors
Dr. Anita Jeyakumar
Dr. Anita Jeyakumar is a practicing Pediatric Otolaryngologist in Ohio that specailzes in ear surgery.
Dr. Gopi Shah
Dr. Gopi Shah is a practicing ENT at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX.
Dr. Ashley Agan
Dr. Ashley Agan is a practicing ENT and assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX.
Show Notes
In this episode, pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Anita Jeyakumar joins Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss screening, counseling, and treatment options for single sided deafness in children.
Dr. Jeyakumar starts by outlining referral patterns for single sided deafness, which can arise from newborn or pediatric hearing screenings. When counseling families on the importance of close monitoring and early intervention, Dr. Jeyakumar believes that it is crucial to fully explain how hearing loss can affect academic success, social interactions, and general safety: When a child has retained normal hearing in one ear, their speech is usually unaffected. However, the child will likely struggle with cognitive overload and cognitive fatigue when relying solely on the hearing ear. The child can also feel overwhelmed with trying to hear in noisy social situations. As the child gets older, untreated hearing loss can also put them at risk in potentially hazardous scenarios, such as crossing busy intersections, and eventually, driving.
The doctors discuss imaging modalities such as CT and MRI. Dr. Jeyakumar prefers MRI, since it can identify hypoplastic and aplastic auditory nerves.
Finally, the doctors highlight a range of treatment options, including the use of CROS hearing aids, bone conduction hearing aids, and cochlear implantation. With all of these technologies, it is important to keep in mind the patient’s age, infection risk, cosmetic concerns, and insurance coverage. Dr. Jeyakumar emphasizes that staying in contact with the family is important, as children may need treatment adjustments due to changes in schooling and geographic location.
Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.