Conduite à tenir devant une surdité de l'enfant

Diagnosing hearing impairment is possible from the first days of life. Hearing tests should not be delayed when hearing loss is suspected. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the speech development and academic performances. Behavioural hearing tests are reliable, and necessary in addition to objective measures. Speech and language must be assessed in every case. As soon as sensorineural hearing impairment is confirmed, hearing aid fitting and speech therapy must start. In profound deafness the child should be referred to a specialized early rehabilitation unit, and cochlear implant should be discussed according to results with hearing aids.