Hearing Impairment in Children

Definition of hearing impairmen

Screening and Diagnosis

Babies

All babies should have a hearing screening no later than 1 month of age. Most babies have their hearing screened while still in the hospital. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it’s very important to get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months of age.

Children

Children should have their hearing tested before they enter school or any time there is a concern about the child’s hearing. Children who do not pass the hearing screening need to get a full hearing test as soon as possible.

There are four types of hearing loss:

1. Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. This type of hearing loss can often be treated with medicine or surgery.

2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that occurs when there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.

3. Mixed Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss

4. Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Hearing loss that occurs when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, sound isn’t organized in a way that the brain can understand.

Hearing loss can also be described as:

• Unilateral or Bilateral

Hearing loss is in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).

• Pre-lingual or Post-lingual

Hearing loss happened before a person learned to talk (pre-lingual) or after a person learned to talk (post-lingual).

• Symmetrical or Asymmetrical

Hearing loss is the same in both ears (symmetrical) or is different in each ear (asymmetrical).

• Progressive or Sudden

Hearing loss worsens over time (progressive) or happens quickly (sudden).

• Fluctuating or Stable

Hearing loss gets either better or worse over time (fluctuating) or stays the same over time (stable).

• Congenital or Acquired/Delayed Onset

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Signs and Symptoms

Signs in Babies

• Does not startle at loud noises.

• Does not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age.

• Does not say single words, such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age.

• Turns head when he or she sees you but not if you only call out his or her name. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.

• Seems to hear some sounds but not others.

Signs in Children

• Speech is delayed.

• Speech is not clear.

• Does not follow directions. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.

• Often says, “Huh?”

• Turns the TV volume up too high.

Treatments and Intervention Services

No single treatment or intervention is the answer for every person or family. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the way. There are many different types of communication options for children with hearing loss and for their families. Some of these options include:

• Learning other ways to communicate, such as sign language

• Technology to help with communication, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants

• Medicine and surgery to correct some types of hearing loss

• Family support services

The degree of hearing loss can range from mild to profound

• Mild Hearing Loss

A person with a mild hearing loss may hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.

• Moderate Hearing Loss

A person with a moderate hearing loss may hear almost no speech when another person is talking at a normal level.

• Severe Hearing Loss

A person with severe hearing loss will hear no speech when a person is talking at a normal level and only some loud sounds.

• Profound Hearing Loss

A person with a profound hearing loss will not hear any speech and only very loud sounds.