Hearing Loss – Babies and Children

The problem of hearing loss in children is significant if we consider the following facts:

• One in 1000 children is born with profound deafness.
• An additional 2 children in 1000 will acquire deafness in early childhood.
• Infants who need intensive medical care during the newborn period are at special risk for hearing loss, resulting in 1 child in 50 from the intensive care nurseries being hearing impaired.
• Ear infection, the most common infectious disease of childhood may be associated with hearing loss.
• Nearly 100% of all children will develop some periods of hearing loss related to ear infection during the period from birth through to 11 years.

It is important for any child who has or have had any of the following to be evaluated audiologically:

• History of chronic otitis media (middle ear infection)
• Complaints from the teacher regarding concentration and/or attention difficulties.
• Children who often ask for repetition.
• Children who often don’t hear when called from another room.
• Slow speech and language development.
• Parents who think their children do not hear 100%
• Parents who are worried about their child’s hearing.
• Other family members who have speech language and hearing problems
• Any history of mumps, measles or meningitis.