Some of the most common signs of hearing impairment are an inability to follow directions, confusion, asking for information to be repeated over and over again, and seeming distracted while someone is speaking. A person may use one ear more than another if the hearing loss only affects one particular ear. People who suffer from hearing loss may often turn their heads toward a noise to better hear it, or if the loss is significant, may not react to a noise at all.
Children who have problems with their hearing may also frequently suffer from ear infections and sinus problems. A child may not be able to pronounce words correctly, and his speech may not develop as it should. A child also may not correctly understand words being spoken him. Children with signs of hearing impairment are often less social and may daydream frequently as well.
Hearing loss can be contributed to a number of different factors, including complications during a woman’s pregnancy, complications during labor, or an accident that has occurred. Some people are born with signs of hearing impairment because of genetic factors. Several different childhood illnesses can also contribute to the development of hearing loss, such as the measles and mumps.
There are three different kinds of hearing impairment. The first, known as conductive hearing loss, affects the outer and middle areas of the ear. The second, known as sensorineural hearing loss, describes the loss of hearing in the inner part of the ear. If the impairment is located in the outer, middle, and inner parts of the ear, it is known as mixed hearing loss.
Treatment for those who development the signs of hearing impairment will vary. Sometimes the loss can be fixed using surgery, while other times a hearing aid or a cochlear implant will be able to restore most if not all of a person’s hearing. There are some people who embrace the loss, learning sign language and how to read lips. Some even learn to speak, even though they themselves can not hear the words they are saying.
If the signs of hearing impairment are recognized early on in a child’s life, the condition can sometimes be treated more efficiently. Infant hearing loss can sometimes be discovered right after birth. Testing can be done early on to identify hearing loss, and parents and loved ones can watch for the specific signs that indicate there is a problem.