Hearing Loss in Children

For children, hearing and speech are two very important to the learning process as they age. They are essential to cognitive, social, and language development. If a child has a hearing loss that goes undetected and untreated then they are likely to suffer from developmental problems, poor social interaction, and problems at school and in the home. Hearing loss occurs across a range and is different for each child affected by it so it is crucial to have proper testing and fitting done by a licensed audiologist. Through early detection and treatment, children have a much higher success rate of staying on their path of healthy development.

So what causes hearing loss in children? The most common type is otitis media, which is an inflammation in the middle ear often associated with the build up of fluid. Hearing loss can also be caused by genetics factors, some viruses, prematurity, maternal diabetes, and other complications that occur during pregnancy. The most common cause, otitis media, affects each child differently in regards to severity, symptoms, frequency, and duration. Otitis media is often a temporary loss of hearing however, frequent occurrence can cause damage to the eardrum, the bones of the ear, or even the hearing nerve. These types of damages can lead to permanent hearing loss that requires hearing devices.

Days, weeks, and even months can pass before a parent or caregiver becomes aware that their child is experiencing a degree of hearing loss. If the child does not express pain or have a fever, there are other symptoms that may be an indicator of fluid in the ear: pulling or scratching the ears, unexplainable irritability, short attention span, wanting the television or radio turned to a higher volume, not understanding direction, inconsistent responses to sound, speaking in a loud or soft voice, or lack of verbal communication. The list of symptoms is much more extensive so speaking with your audiologist or pediatrician will help determine if testing for a hearing loss is recommended.