Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesScreeningTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Screening
Treatment
Congenitalhearing lossmeans you are born with partial or complete hearing loss. It is most often associated with genetic disorders that affect the normal development of hearing organs, although birth complications, maternal infections, and drug and alcohol use during pregnancy are sometimes to blame.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of congenital hearing loss, including what can be done to diagnose and treat hearing problems in children.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Types of Congenital Hearing Loss
How to Tell If a Child Has Congenital Hearing Loss
Symptoms of hearing loss in infants and babies include:
Symptoms in older children can include:
What Causes Congenital Hearing Loss?
The most common cause of congenital hearing loss is genetic. Genes play a role in the formation of the hearing organs as well as the nerve pathways.
Well over 100 “deafness genes” have been identified. Some are non-syndromic (only affecting hearing), while others are syndromic (involving hearing loss and other deficits, like blindness or intellectual disability).
Genetic syndromes associated with congenital hearing loss include:
There are other common causes of congenital hearing loss that do not involve genetics, including:
Diagnosing and Screening for Congenital Hearing Loss
Diagnosing congenital hearing loss in newborns requires specific tests. It is recommended that babies be screened within the first month of life. Most newborn babies born in hospitals are screened within a few days of birth.
The screening test generally consists of these two non-invasive diagnostic tools:
If these tests reveal hearing loss, the child will need additional testing in the future. Many of these tests will be behavioral-based (such as making a sound behind a child to check when or if they notice it).
Screening may also involve genetic testing for congenital syndromes and imaging tests of the inner ear and brain usingmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How Is Congenital Hearing Loss Treated?
Treatment for congenital hearing loss is multifaceted and involves a team of healthcare providers, which may consist of:
Since there is no cure for congenital hearing loss, the treatment is focused on improving symptoms and preventing further hearing loss. These may include the following to preventdelays in speech and language development:
Summary
While there is no cure for congenital hearing loss, early detection and treatment can prevent speech and language delays. Treatments involving hearing aids and sign language can help children adapt and develop at the same pace as children without hearing loss.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Hearing loss at birth (congenital hearing loss).Korver AM, Smith RJ, Van Camp G, et al.Congenital hearing loss.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:16094. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.94Lieu JEC, Kenna M, Anne S, Davidson L.Hearing loss in children: a review.JAMA.2020;324(21):2195-2205. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.17647Chari DA, Chan DK.Diagnosis and treatment of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep. 2017;5(4):251-258. doi:10.1007/s40136-017-0163-3
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Hearing loss at birth (congenital hearing loss).Korver AM, Smith RJ, Van Camp G, et al.Congenital hearing loss.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:16094. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.94Lieu JEC, Kenna M, Anne S, Davidson L.Hearing loss in children: a review.JAMA.2020;324(21):2195-2205. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.17647Chari DA, Chan DK.Diagnosis and treatment of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep. 2017;5(4):251-258. doi:10.1007/s40136-017-0163-3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Hearing loss at birth (congenital hearing loss).Korver AM, Smith RJ, Van Camp G, et al.Congenital hearing loss.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:16094. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.94Lieu JEC, Kenna M, Anne S, Davidson L.Hearing loss in children: a review.JAMA.2020;324(21):2195-2205. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.17647Chari DA, Chan DK.Diagnosis and treatment of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep. 2017;5(4):251-258. doi:10.1007/s40136-017-0163-3
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Hearing loss at birth (congenital hearing loss).
Korver AM, Smith RJ, Van Camp G, et al.Congenital hearing loss.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:16094. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.94
Lieu JEC, Kenna M, Anne S, Davidson L.Hearing loss in children: a review.JAMA.2020;324(21):2195-2205. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.17647
Chari DA, Chan DK.Diagnosis and treatment of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep. 2017;5(4):251-258. doi:10.1007/s40136-017-0163-3
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