Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21
Deafness In Children.

The ear is subject to affections that impair its
functions at the earliest period OF life; indeed,
Children are exposed to influences from which
they seldom entirely escape without more or
less aural disease. Such are the consequences
OF colds, which, when Of long continuance, are
of the mouth, throat, and nose, the resulting
sympathetic deafness in some Instances being so
great that instruction Is impossible, and the
child is unable to learn to talk 1t is then a
deafmute.
The fact should not be lost sight of that at
this early period of existence the function of
hearing is crude, and requires gradual cultiva-
ton for its development, and that any deafness
should be promptly met Thus the hearing of
children ought to be often tested, and although
accurate results may be difficult OF obtatnment,
the knowledge gained Is advantageous.
Should an Infant escape all other causes Of au-
raj disease, it encounters at the seventh month
a Pathological process in development that Is
frequently the source of great Irritation in the
mouth, and of sympathetic irritation In the ear.
refer to the cutting of the teeth, which usually
begins at this age. That this period is fraught
with special danger to the organ Of hearing is
well recognized by both mothers and nurses,
who have long considered teeth1ng as in some
way connected with earache Every one of the
first twenty teeth In perforating the gum is liza
BILE to be thus heralded. Fortunate, therefore,
is the infant who has passed its second year, the
period at which first dentition is concluded,
without having experienced aural irritation.
These first teeth, however, are subject to pre-
mature decay, as well as a natural absorption
time the second dentitlon begins. From this
cause sympathetic aural trouble often arises,
and frequently continues while the second teeth
are cutting.
About the sixth year, as stated, the second or
permanent teeth begin to make their appear
ance, and at the thirteenth year they have all
been cut with the exception of the wisdom
teeth. These second teeth are promoters OF
even more disturbance In the ears than the
first; the earacheS and discharges are more
persistent, the complications In general more
grave. Subsequent to this PERIOD there is a
cessation of dental irritation, although estab-
Ii he'd discharges from the ears are liable to
continue on Indefinitely.
The foregoing remarks will serve to draw at
tent1on to the liability existing in youth to fire.
OF which leaves the conductive mechanism In
worse condition than before, repeated invasions
finally leaving behind 1rreparabie injury. In
these cases, even when comparatively untm-
portant as respects pain, competant advice can
not be too early obtained, for the longer they
are neglected, the less amendable to treatment
they become.
Certain diseases of childhood very frequently
affect the ears; such are scarlet fever, measles
diphtheria, cerebro- spinal meningitis, whoop-
| ing cough, and mumps. During the attacks of
these diseases, and even when cOnvaleScence
absent, occasional examinations Of the ears
should be made, in order that, If affected. they
may receive early attention. Deafness is ussu-
ally an early symptom Of most aural affections;
but, on the contrary, in some Instances very
considerable impairment of the drum cavity
and its 'contained mechanism exists without
any perceptible impairment Of hearing.
1t is believed that very small percentage OF
the adult population possess normal hearing,
which fact greatly depends on the neglect In
childhood to which alluSiOn has above been
| made.-Dr. Samuel Sexton, IN HaTpe''s Maya