The most common cause of a mild hearing loss is fluid collection in the middle ear, a conductive hearing loss. It is hard for these children to understand speech in group situations. They can hear only loud voices one foot or less away, or loud sounds in the environment. Children with profound hearing losses may hear loud sounds of 90 dB or more, but they may be more aware of vibrations than sound. The term deaf usually applies to children with profound hearing losses or to children with no hearing at all.
Early testing is important in helping a hearing-impaired child adapt to the hearing world.
Every child who may have a hearing loss needs thorough testing of his hearing and middle ear function. A child is never too young to have a hearing test. An audiologist performs hearing tests. He or she is specially trained to recognize and evaluate hearing. If necessary, an audiologist can fit your child with a hearing aid.