Childhood hearing loss: strategies for prevention and care

Overview

The interaction between a person and his or her surrounding environment is mediated through sensory experiences. The sense of hearing, in particular, fundamentally facilitates communication and fosters social interaction. Hearing is the key to learning spoken language and is important for the cognitive development of children. Without suitable interventions, hearing loss is a barrier to both education and social integration (1-10). Some 360 million people (approximately 5% of the world’s population) live with disabling hearing loss and nearly 32 million of them are children (12). It is estimated that over 60% of such hearing loss could be avoided through preventive measures. In addition, children who have hearing loss can benefit greatly from early identification and appropriate interventions. Action is required to ensure that the preventable causes of hearing loss are avoided and that everyone with unavoidable hearing loss can reach their full potential through rehabilitation, education and empowerment.

This document outlines the prevalence and impact of childhood hearing loss. It highlights that the majority of causes responsible for hearing loss in children can be prevented and offers strategies for action.