Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Regardless of the type or cause of hearing loss, behaviors resulting from a hearing loss are varied and will reflect the severity of the loss.
The following are a few more obvious indicators of a possible hearing impairment:
- Failure to respond to sound (i.e. speech, T.V., radio)
- Complaining of earache or a discharge from the ear
- Confuses or misunderstands other people, especially in groups
- Watching the speaker’s face
- Problems with language development and/or pronuciation of sounds
- Withdrawel from social activities
- High level of frustration
- Complains of ringing in ears
Causes of Hearing Loss
- Excessive ear wax
- Middle ear infection
- Acoustic trauma
- Congenital hearing loss
- Genetically determined hearing loss
- Age induced hearing loss (most common)
- Noise induced hearing loss
- Ototoxic medications
Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss:
- More rapid decline in speech recognition
- Isolation and social withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger and frustration
- Embarrassment
Hearing Loss in Children
Hearing loss in children negatively impacts speech and language development. Therefore, early identification and rehabilitation are necessary to prevent these delays.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
CAPD is the inability to attend to, discriminate, recognize or comprehend what is heard in the absence of any hearing impairment.
Signs of a possible auditory processing disorder:
- Trouble paying attention, especially in noise
- Difficulty following verbal instructions
- Poor listening skills (says “huh” or “what” frequently)
- Language difficulty – expressive or receptive
- Poor reading and spelling ability
- Low academic performance
Click here for ASHA’s position statement