children s health issues
Hearing Impairment in Children
Introduction
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. Hearing impairment in newborns most commonly results from cytomegalovirus infection or genetic defects and in older children results from ear infections or earwax. If children do not respond to sounds, have difficulty talking, or are slow starting to talk, the cause may be hearing impairment. A handheld device or a test that measures the brain’s responses to sounds is used to test hearing in newborns, and various other techniques are used for older children. Untreated hearing impairment can impede a child's verbal, social, and emotional development. If possible, the cause is treated, but hearing aids may be needed. If hearing aids are not effective, a cochlear implant can sometimes be helpful. Hearing impairment is relatively common among children. About 1.9% of children have trouble hearing, and permanent hearing loss is found in more than 1 out of every 1,000 children screened for hearing loss, whether or not they have symptoms. Hearing impairment is slightly more common among boys. Not recognizing and treating impairment can seriously impair a child’s ability to speak and understand language. The impairment can lead to failure in school, teasing by peers, social isolation, and emotional difficulties. (See also Hearing Loss in adults.) 