What Is It?
Deafness/hearing loss is a condition in which individuals need sounds to be louder than their peers in order to hear them. It can be categorized into degrees of severity, ranging from slight to profound. Different types of deafness/hearing loss exist, including:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: typically permanent. Sensorineural indicates that the hearing loss is originating at the level of the cochlea or auditory nerve.
- Conductive: typically temporary or fluctuating. Conductive indicates that the hearing loss is originating at the outer or middle ear space in which something is preventing how sounds are being conducted through the hearing system.
- Mixed: typically permanent or fluctuating. Mixed indicates that the hearing loss is originating partly in the outer or middle ear space and partly at the level of the cochlea or auditory nerve.
Whom Does It Affect?
2-3 out of 1000 infants are born with deafness/hearing loss. Children can also develop late-onset hearing loss due to a variety of genetic, medical (e.g., medications), or environmental factors (e.g., noise).
Symptoms of Deafness/Hearing Loss
If your infant refers on a newborn hearing screen, a follow-up diagnostic exam should be completed as soon as possible! Depending on the degree of severity, however, symptoms for deafness/hearing loss may vary. Typically, these are signs that may prompt an exam for hearing in your child:
- Frequent request for repetition;
- Delayed or no response to their name being called;
- Delayed or no reaction to startling (loud) sounds;
- Delayed spoken language development;
- Sudden or progressive changes in responses to sound.
Is Deafness/Hearing Loss Part of Something Bigger?
Most cases of childhood hearing loss can be linked to genetic or other congenital disorders. Disorders we have seen in this clinic are:
- Connexin 26 gene mutation
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)
- Enlarged vestibular aqueducts syndrome (EVA/LVA)
- Usher’s Syndrome
- Trisomy 21
- Trisomy 18
- Pendred syndrome
- Stickler’s syndrome
- Treacher-Collins syndrome
If deafness/hearing loss is identified, it is important to meet with a geneticist and otolaryngologist to understand if there is an underlying genetic or congenital cause.
Who Can Diagnose Deafness/Hearing Loss
Audiologists are the only qualified healthcare professional to diagnose deafness/hearing loss in children. Many other medical professionals may be qualified to talk about or even screen for deafness/hearing loss; however, the diagnosis can only be made by an audiologist. Even then, few audiologists specialize in the assessment and treatment for deafness/hearing loss in children, so be picky about whom you see!
Who Can Treat Deafness/Hearing Loss
Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may require a lot of early intervention. In their lifetime, they will likely work with a full range of rehabilitative and medical professionals, including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. However, audiologists are the only qualified healthcare professional to help select, program, and fit amplification technology in children. Audiologists are the primary interventionists for listening therapy as well; however, few audiologists feel comfortable providing this service.
Deafness or Hearing Loss?
The word “deaf” has both a clinical and cultural meaning. Individuals with any degree of hearing loss may identify as deaf and choose to take part in the deaf community, including learning to communicate using a visual language (e.g., American Sign Language). Clinically, “deaf” is usually a term used to describe individuals whose hearing sensitivity falls in the severe to profound hearing loss range.
Would you like to have your child’s hearing tested? Call today!