Show Check On Their Hearing By Rembert Benjamin MD M.D. Quite often children arc are accused accused accused ac ac- ac- ac wrongly of being hardheaded hardheaded hard headed when actually they are hard of or hearing It is generally generally gen gen- generally felt feU now that an actual increase in deafness in children children chil chit dren is usually secondary secondary secondary sec sec- to an acute middle ear infection MANY children complaining g with acute earache are seen by the family physician and rece receive receive re re- re- re ce cee e one or two injections of penicillin or some to take by mouth and become symptom free and never return to the family physician What occurs then is is referred to as residual tubal that is a chronic lingering infection infection infection in in- with obstruction of or the Eustachian tube and improper drainage of fluid from the middle middle mid mid- middie dle die ear space This condition then impairs the proper function function function tion of the tympanic membrane or ear drum and hearing impairment impairment im im- impairment results PARENTS are reminded that antibiotics often are all that is necessary in acute ear infections infections infections but some cases will require require require re re- re- re quire adequate surgical train train- age so a recheck by the family physician when the child is symptom symptom free free is wise Another common problem in young children that causes cause s much concern to parents is that tha t of enuresis bed wetting I If f parents understand the em and help such children th the e I situation in most instances w be corrected CHILDREN with such a problem problem problem lem should be examined by their physician to rule out th the e possibility of diseases or some som e congenital defect in the urinary system of the body Under n no o circumstances should children childre n be ridiculed or punished In most cases of enuresis i in n which no disease or congenital defect is present the simple e procedure of forcing fluids o othe on n the child then instructing th the e child to hold the urine as long longas g as possible with the procedure e daily will achieve bladder bladder bladder blad blad- der control |