The first signs of a hearing loss are subtle, such as asking people to repeat themselves, turning an ear toward a sound to better hear it, and understanding people better when facing them as they are speaking. Gradually, patients need to turn up the volume on the television or radio and others complain that it's too loud. Often patients will lose their place in a group conversation and can have sensitivity to loud noises or ringing in their ears. It is very important to have a hearing test as most hearing losses can be helped medically or surgically, with hearing aids and rehabilitation. Children who are not able to imitate sounds clearly or use simple words for familiar people or objects may be suffering from an acquired hearing loss.
Current technology makes it possible to identify hearing loss in children very early.
Newborn Hearing Screening Significant hearing loss is one of the most common major abnormalities present at birth and, if undetected, will impede speech, language, and cognitive development. Significant bilateral hearing loss is present in I to 3 per 1000 newborn infants in the well-baby nursery population, and in 2 to 4 per 100 infants in the intensive care unit population. Currently, the average age of detection of significant hearing loss is 14 months. Universal detection of infant hearing loss requires universal screening of all infants. American Academy of Pediatrics, v 103, n 2.