Children and hearing loss
Causes for hearing impairments in children
When something is wrong with their child's hearing, parents usually try to understand the origin of the hearing loss.
The causes of infantile hearing impairment are diverse. The main ones are high-risk pregnancies, different infectious diseases, taking certain medications, and alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy. Additionally, although less common, hereditary irregularities and infantile meningitis are also possible causes.
Risk factors which can cause hearing loss before, during or shortly after birth:
- Weight at birth below 1,500 g and/or birth before the 32nd week of pregnancy
- Lack of oxygen or respiratory standstill
- Administration of ototoxic medicines (loop diuretics, aminoglycosides)
- Mechanical birth injuries
In many children, the hearing impairment occurs after birth. Examples are:
- In babies and infants afflicted by bacterial meningitis or encephalitis
- After severe cases of measles or mumps
- After accidents
- Following chemotherapy
- After chronic ear inflammations
- In children who suffer from certain syndromes (e.g. Moebius syndrome, congenital multiple arthrogryposis, etc.)
One should also consider the possibility of hearing damage in:
- Children with minor and severe middle ear malformations (e.g. Franceschetti's syndrome)
- Children with cerebral motor disturbances
- Children in whom speech does not develop at all or not any further
- Children exhibiting abnormal behavior, i.e. by being very loud, aggressive or completely still
