Hearing loss in children

When there is damage to any part of the path that sound takes through the hearing system, hearing ability may be compromised.

Only certain types of hearing impairment can be treated with medicine or surgery, while most others will benefit from the use of hearing aids.

A hearing loss can have a great effect on a child’s development

Certain factors can influence the impact a hearing loss has on a child’s development. A child born with a hearing loss has a greater risk of delayed speech and language development than a child that acquires the hearing loss after speech and language are developed.

The degree of loss also has a major impact. A greater degree of hearing loss will usually have a greater effect on the development of speech and language.

It is very important that hearing loss is diagnosed and treated as early as possible

Emerging evidence suggests that hearing impaired children can develop speech and language abilities similar to those of normal hearing children, if they are fitted with hearing aids before 6 months of age.

The term "hearing loss" or "hearing impairment" does not imply deafness

A deaf person is one who is unable to process or "hear" sounds with or without a hearing aid. Since most hearing losses are successfully managed through the use of hearing aids, the hearing loss should be termed precisely that: hearing loss.