Why are children deaf?

Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in childhood. Early detection and management of hearing impairment in children is essential to avoid any potential risk to speech and language development, communication, and learning. There are many potential causes for hearing loss in children, and these can be categorized by the site, severity, and aetiology of hearing loss. We detail many of the important causes of childhood hearing impairment. These include congenital genetic causes, congenital non-genetic causes, and acquired causes. The clinical assessment of a child with suspected hearing impairment requires the collaborative effort of general practitioners, paediatricians, otolaryngologists, and audiologists. We outline important diagnostic features in the history, clinical, and otoscopic examination, and elaborate on the audiometric tests available for children. The role of the universal neonatal hearing screening programme is outlined. In addition, management strategies for the various forms and severities of hearing loss are discussed. We therefore provide a comprehensive and practically-based educational review of one of the most common health problems faced by the paediatric population.