Hearing loss in infants and young children can be challenging to diagnose and manage. Children with hearing loss:
At the Listen for Life Center at Virginia Mason, we understand the unique needs of hearing impaired children and their families. We are committed to providing your child comprehensive care in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.
Every day in the United States, about 33 babies are born with some degree of permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss is, in fact, the number one birth defect in this country.
The Listen for Life Center championed universal hearing screening for newborns and is a regional referral center for newborn screening. If your baby has not had a hearing screening, call us at one of our Listen for Life Center locations to schedule a hearing screening.
With early identification, we are able to provide intervention before a child is six months old.
Recurring ear infections are a common cause of hearing loss in children. Permanent hearing loss can result when fluid associated with infections remains in the ear and causes chronic changes to the eardrum and middle ear bones.
Other causes of hearing loss in children include:
If you suspect your child may have problems hearing – or has speech or language delays – talk to your primary care doctor, who can refer you to one of our Listen for Life Center locations.
The results of testing and physical examinations determine the next steps for a child found to have hearing loss, which may be a hearing aid or other listen device, or a cochlear implant.
Hearing tests for children include:
The otology surgeons at Virginia Mason will guide a medical evaluation to try to understand the cause of your child’s hearing loss. They are also able to correct structural problems of the ear canal, eardrum and hearing bones.