Diagnosing hearing problems

Hearing loss is defined as the partial or total inability to hear sound in one or both ears. The impact of childhood hearing impairment is devastating; poor language development can impact on literacy skills, educational achievement, and subsequent income and socio-economic status. Universal neonatal screening is therefore the aim, with early diagnosis of hearing loss and early provision of hearing aids. However, not all hearing impairments manifest themselves at birth, and screening programmes must be complemented by services that can confirm and manage cases where impairment shows itself later. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive insight into the mechanism of assessment of children with suspected hearing impairment.