Unilateral Hearing Loss in Children

Abstract

In the 1980s, two studies found that children with unilateral hearing impairment were 10 times more likely to repeat a grade compared to the general school-age population. Since the publication of those reports, grade retention has been found to be an ineffective strategy for achieving long-term academic success, and is no longer widely recommended. This survey describeshow children with unilateral hearing loss are presently supported given this change in educational practices. Reports on 406 children indicated that 54% received individualized special education services, in addition to some level of audiologic support, and that 24% were functioning below average relative to their peers. Other information regarding demographics, use of amplification, and additional educational concerns are also reported.

Amplification Considerations for Children With Minimal or Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss and Unilateral Hearing Loss

“…C hildren with minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss (MBHL) and unilateral hearing loss (UHL) are at higher risk for academic, speech-language, and social-emotional difficulties than their normal hearing peers. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The exact reasons for these difficulties are still unknown; however, it is reasonable to assume that they result, at least in part, from the listening problems encountered by these children throughout their development. Therefore, the primary role of audiologists working with children who have MBHL or UHL is the selection and fitting of hearing technology.…”

Minimal Hearing Loss: From a Failure-Based Approach to Evidence-Based Practice

“…As the educational system has evolved, it is plausible to expect a reduction in grade retention rates but a growth in the number of children with MHL who have IEPs (English & Church, 1999). Children with MHL have been found to have high rates of special educational services in general (Bess & Tharpe, 1984;Brookhouser et al, 1991;English & Church, 1999;F.…”

“…Children with MHL typically were not identified until they entered school English & Church, 1999;Lieu, Tye-Murray, & Fu, 2012). This trend was more pronounced before the implementation of early hearing detection and intervention programs because difficulty in school was usually the first indication of the hearing loss.…”

“…A few studies have reported the known etiologies of hearing loss in their subject samples (e.g., Brookhouser, Worthington, & Kelly, 1991;English & Church, 1999). Tharpe and Sladen (2008) provided a review of the known causes of MHL, which include genetic causes, prematurity, enlarged vestibular aqueduct, congenital cytomegalovirus, mumps, meningitis, auditory neuropathy, and atresia.…”

Causation of Permanent Unilateral and Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss in Children

“…1,9,10 More recently, in reports from the 1990s, unknown etiology was again reported to account for approximately 35% to 60% of cases of UHL. 11,12 This is indeed surprising given the recent completion of the sequencing of the human genome and other medical advances that have improved our ability to identify genetic, metabolic, and viral causes of hearing loss in infancy. The most commonly reported known etiologies of UHL include viral complications (approximately 25%), 1,9,10,17 meningitis (approximately 15%), 1,9,10 head trauma (approximately 8% to 12%), 1,12 prenatal or perinatal disorders (12%), 4 and genetic disorders.…”