CHILDHOOD HEARING LOSS
Ent Specialist
A child may be diagnosed with hearing loss if they can’t hear sounds below a certain level of volume, depending on the hearing test results, in either one ear (known as unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). The most minimal threshold is usually somewhere around 15 to 20 decibels (dB) of sound, which is roughly the sound of leaves rustling or people whispering.
How common is hearing loss in kids?
There are many different estimates depending on the organization gathering the data, but overall hearing loss is fairly common in kids. One national survey estimated that about 15% of kids and teens have hearing loss, though in most cases the hearing loss was slight, and in only one ear. More severe levels of hearing loss are less common.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss in babies
Hospitals routinely perform newborn hearing screening on infants in the first day or two after birth. If a a newborn shows signs of infant hearing loss, he or she is usually scheduled for a second screening a few weeks later. However, sometimes newborns who pass both hearing screenings may exhibit signs of hearing loss as they get older.
