pediatrics
Hearing Impairment in Children
Key Points
Common causes of hearing loss in neonates are cytomegalovirus infection or genetic defects and in infants and older children are cerumen accumulation and middle ear infusions. Suspect hearing loss if a child's response to sounds or development of speech and language is abnormal. Screen infants for hearing loss, beginning with evoked otoacoustic emissions testing. Diagnose children based on results of clinical examination and tympanometry. Treat irreversible hearing loss with a hearing aid or cochlear implant and language support (eg, teaching sign language) as needed. 