The
information provided here should not be used for diagnosing or treating a
health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If
your child has any health concerns, please consult your health care provider.
Auditory Impairments / Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing
Introduction
An auditory impairment is a reduction or defect in the ability to perceive sound. Individuals with complete hearing loss are considered deaf. An auditory impairment occurs when there's a problem with, or damage to one or more parts of the ear. Hearing impairments can be from a congenital defect, which is present at birth, or an acquired, which occurs in childhood or later in life. Also the impairment may be genetic, or due to the surrounding environment. The degree of the hearing impairment can vary widely from one child to the next. There are three types of hearing impairments to include conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. The deaf and hard of hearing community is very diverse, differing greatly on the cause and degree of hearing loss, age at the onset, educational background, communication methods, and how they feel about their hearing loss.
Diagnosis
Auditory / hearing impairments are often difficult to diagnose due to a child’s inability to communicate and screening for hearing impairments for your child will typically take place before leaving the hospital. Other times, parents notice the child not responding to noises or verbal communication. Early intervention and diagnosis of a hearing impairment is important to the child’s overall development and this will also assist the child in learning alternative methods of communication.
Helpful Links:
http://www.211-broward.org/special-needs/snresources.htm
This information has been created for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If your child has any health concerns, please consult your health care provider.