How To Treat And Manage Pendred Syndrome

Avoid Activities With Risk Of Barotrauma

Barotrauma is a special type of trauma caused by sudden changes in pressure. We may not notice it, but humans are typically surrounded by pressures within a certain range. If the air pressure becomes suddenly lower or higher, it can cause an imbalance between internal and external pressure that puts a lot of strain on the ears. The average person typically only notices this when they are flying in a plane and their ears hurt, but for a patient with Pendred syndrome, it is important to pay more attention to changes in pressure. Strong pressure changes can damage the ears and cause more hearing loss. Individuals with Pendred syndrome have reported hearing loss after flying on airplanes, and other activities like scuba diving or having hyperbaric oxygen treatments may not be advisable. Fortunately, it is mostly easy to avoid activities with risk of barotrauma. All it requires is a few changes to travel plans and the avoidance of a few types of hobbies.

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Learn Communication Skills Early

Language acquisition can be fairly challenging for individuals who are born deaf or already have severe hearing loss in childhood. It is easier for children to learn various languages and communication skills when they are younger, so it is a good idea to learn communication skills as early as possible. Parents should both speak and sign to their children from an early age. Encourage children to talk as much as possible, so they can more easily speak when their ability to hear changes. It may be helpful for patients to work with a speech-language pathologist who can provide tips for communicating with hearing loss. These types of language skills are very important because it will be easier for a child to cope with hearing loss if they already have alternative methods in place. This will reduce quite a lot of frustration later in life.

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