Childhood hearing impairment can be present at birth or acquired afterwards due to infection, trauma, noise exposure, or certain medical conditions. Most cases of children hearing impairment occur after birth. Many infectious diseases can cause hearing loss including meningitis, chicken pox, mumps, hepatitis, and influenza.

Congenital hearing impairment is often caused by hereditary, drug exposure, prenatal infections, or erythroblastosis fetalis. Erythroblastosis fetalis is a life-threatening condition that is caused by the mother and fetus having different blood types. Numerous inherited conditions can cause hearing loss or deafness.

Deafness in infants is often suspected when the infant fails to respond to noise or any sound. Slight to moderate hearing loss may go undetected until the child has a delay in speech development or hearing loss is found during a routine hearing test. If hearing loss is suspected, the physician will test the infant or child’s hearing to determine the degree of hearing loss.

Early detection is beneficial in providing the best care and lessen the impact of the hearing loss on the development of verbal communication skills. When devising a treatment plan for the hearing impairment, several factors are considered. The cause of the hearing loss may help determine the best course of treatment.

Together with the parents, the physician may develop a treatment plan to either help the child cope with deafness or provide the best chances for improving hearing loss. Some types of hearing loss improve drastically with the removal of any blockages or surgical intervention. If the hearing loss is due to a bacterial infection, the hearing loss may improve or completely disappear upon treatment with antibiotics. Ear tubes may be surgically inserted to drain fluid from the ears and help stop recurrent ear infections that are causing hearing impairment.

Hearing aids or cochlear implants may be a desirable option for the treatment of permanent hearing loss or deafness. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that improve hearing. Parents may want to research treatment options before conceding to any the treatment. In many cases, the physician may provide the parents with resources or information that can be beneficial to determining the best treatment for the hearing impairment. The Internet also has a wealth of information about treating hearing impairment in children.