Children with hearing impairment may experience various types of hearing loss, which can be classified based on the onset, progression, and location of the loss. Hearing loss can affect one or both ears and may either remain stable or fluctuate over time.
Babies and children should reach milestones in how they play, learn, communicate and act. A delay in any of these milestones could be a sign of hearing loss or other developmental problem.
Hearing screening can tell if a child might have hearing loss. Hearing screening is easy and is not painful. In fact, babies are often asleep while being screened. It takes a very short time — usually only a few minutes.
Hearing Impairment in Children
The degree of hearing loss can range from mild to profound
• Profound Hearing Loss
A person with a profound hearing loss will not hear any speech and only very loud sounds.
• 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.
• Moderate Hearing Loss
A person with a moderate hearing loss may hear almost no speech when another person is talking at a normal level.
• Mild Hearing Loss
A person with a mild hearing loss may hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.
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:
• Family support services
• Medicine and surgery to correct some types of hearing loss
• Technology to help with communication, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants
• Learning other ways to communicate, such as sign language
Signs and Symptoms
Signs in Children
• Turns the TV volume up too high.
• Often says, “Huh?”
• 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.
• Speech is not clear.
• Speech is delayed.
Signs in Babies
• Seems to hear some sounds but not others.
• 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.
• Does not say single words, such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age.
• Does not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age.
• Does not startle at loud noises.
Hearing loss can also be described as:
• Congenital or Acquired/Delayed Onset
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• Fluctuating or Stable
Hearing loss gets either better or worse over time (fluctuating) or stays the same over time (stable).
• Progressive or Sudden
Hearing loss worsens over time (progressive) or happens quickly (sudden).
• Symmetrical or Asymmetrical
Hearing loss is the same in both ears (symmetrical) or is different in each ear (asymmetrical).
• 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).
• Unilateral or Bilateral
Hearing loss is in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).
There are four types of 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.
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
Hearing loss that includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Hearing loss that occurs when there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.
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.
Screening and Diagnosis
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.
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.
Definition of hearing impairmen
A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. This includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing (acoustic) nerve, and auditory system.
Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential.
Hearing impairment refers to any degree of hearing loss, mild to severe, and can occur when there is a problem with a part of the ear, including the inner, middle, and outer ears, or the nerves needed for hearing.
