A child may experience hearing loss when any part of their ear is not working the way it should, which may include the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing nerve or auditory system. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 babies in the U.S. are born with hearing loss.
What are the most common causes of hearing loss in babies and kids?
There are many possible causes of hearing loss in children, including:
- Premature birth
- Pregnancy-related conditions, such as cytomegalovirus or rubella
- Postnatal infections, such as otitis media or meningitis
- Neurofibromatosis or osteopetrosis
- Genetic syndromes like Down, CHARGE, Usher, Alport, Pendred, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen, Waardenburg, and Treacher Collins
- Craniofacial abnormalities
- Head trauma
- Neurodegenerative disorders
Why is early hearing loss detection important?
Hearing loss in children can have a profound impact on their development. The earlier the hearing loss begins, the greater the effect it can have on a child later in life.
Children with hearing loss may find it more difficult to:
- Learn speech and language.
- Develop social relationships.
- Succeed in school.
The earlier hearing loss is identified and treated, the better the outcome. Our Hearing Loss Program can help identify, treat and support babies and children with hearing loss.
The Hearing Loss Program at Children’s is made up of skilled pediatric otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors, or ENTs), audiologists (hearing specialists) and therapists who offer a full range of audiology diagnostics and treatment services to provide infants, children, teens and young adults with integrated, comprehensive care that’s unmatched at other children’s facilities.
A majority of babies born in the U.S. with hearing loss have no other medical conditions and no family history of hearing loss. In most cases, hearing problems are first identified during a newborn hearing screening, which is done in the hospital before a baby goes home. This pain-free assessment allows us to begin treatment as early as possible to help stimulate sound in your baby’s brain.
If your baby doesn’t pass the initial hearing screening, you’ll receive a referral for a second screening within the first month. Depending on the results, you may need to schedule additional evaluations with an audiologist, who will determine whether your child has hearing loss and should see a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT). Your child’s ENT doctor can determine the cause and treatment of the hearing loss.
Following your doctor’s recommendations, our specialists can help determine which additional evaluations and treatments may be necessary.
We use a variety of methods to find the source of a child’s hearing problem and manage it properly.
Our diagnostic services include:
- Behavioral hearing evaluation: A hearing assessment that’s adapted to your child’s age and development level (may begin as young as 6 months old).
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR): An auditory nerve function assessment used for infants, young children or those who can’t be assessed reliably with a behavioral evaluation.
- Newborn hearing screening: An assessment that’s part of national and state initiatives to identify potential hearing difficulties in newborns.
- Middle ear evaluation: An assessment of the eardrum and middle ear muscle reflexes.
- Otoacoustic emission testing: An assessment of the cochlea, the hearing organ in the inner ear.
Additionally, we routinely assess children scheduled for speech-language evaluations to determine if hearing is an underlying factor in a child’s speech and language difficulties.
Our audiologists use a wide range of hearing technologies to address children’s hearing loss, including:
- Hearing aids: We match children with the appropriate state-of-the-art, digital hearing technology through our hearing-aid evaluation process. Our audiologists also provide fitting and maintenance services.
- Bone-conduction and bone-anchored hearing aids: These hearing aids are used for children who can’t use traditional hearing aids. We provide fitting, programming and follow-up services for these specialized devices.
- FM systems and assistive listening devices: Some children may benefit from devices that improve their hearing in challenging listening situations, such as in the classroom. Our audiologists can test your child to see if they may benefit from these devices.
- Cochlear implant services: We offer the cochlear implant—an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear—for profoundly deaf patients. Our audiologists provide assessment, programming and follow-up care for the implant after surgery.
Pediatric experience
At Children’s, our audiologists have extensive experience in pediatric hearing evaluations for children with a variety of symptoms, conditions and complications. Each year,
- We perform approximately 1,200 auditory brain response (ABR) evaluations and newborn screenings.
- We manage more than 13,000 audiology patient visits.
Because our volumes are high, you can rest assured that your child is being treated by specialists with the skills and experience necessary to provide high-quality care.
Comprehensive and specialized care
Our approach to cochlear implantation is comprehensive and team based. Our audiologists, pediatric ENT specialists and speech therapists work closely with your family to plan and support your child's implant and follow-up care, helping your child achieve their goals.
Children’s is also one of the only pediatric hospital systems in the Southeast to offer vestibular rehabilitation, providing specialized services to alleviate dizziness and balance issues, which may be difficult to find elsewhere.
A guide for families that have a child with hearing loss
If your child has been diagnosed with hearing loss, there is a lot to learn. Read our Audiology Handbook to help guide you on your journey.
READ HANDBOOKChildren's Physician Group–Otolaryngology
Children’s Physician Group is the largest multispecialty physician practice in Georgia. Children’s Physician Group enables you to see providers who are part of the Children’s team.
Physician
- Nandini Govil, MD, Medical Director, Hearing Loss Program
- Ashwini Tilak, MD
Audiologists
- Darby Hightower, AuD, Audiology Manager
- Lauren Valz, AuD, Audiology Clinical Supervisor
- Deedra Alford, AuD
- Laura Berdelman, AuD
- Caitlin Browder, AuD
- Amanda Brown, AuD
- Jenni Chappetto, AuD
- Amanda Cross, AuD
- Heather Garvey, MS
- Erin Gowen, AuD
- Brianna Grovenger, AuD
- Hilary Haddad, AuD
- Erin Holman, AuD, Bone Conduction Device Lead
- Lauren Joy, AuD
- Vicki Lynn, AuD
- Sue Malkin, AuD
- Ryan Miela, AuD
- Meredith Muller, AuD
- Kelly Murphy, AuD, Cochlear Implant Lead
- Jennifer Reddaway, AuD
- Evyn Stewart, AuD
- Lauren Stott, AuD
- Sarah Waggoner, AuD
- Olivia Zimmerman, AuD
Private practice pediatric otolaryngologist in our program
Our team works closely with other otolaryngologists in the community to help make sure complete, coordinated care is delivered seamlessly at our hospitals for children with ENT conditions.
- Paula Harmon, MD
Contact Us 404-785-7100