
Comprehensive hearing health provision models include person- and family-centered approaches (Grenness et al., 2014 Sass-Lehrer, 2004). These processes include planning, decision making, and service delivery. See the ASHA resource on interprofessional education/interprofessional practice (IPE/IPP) for more information on interprofessional collaborative practice.Ĭhildren who are deaf and hard of hearing and their family (including parents, guardians, family members, caregivers, and support system members for the purpose of this page) are integral to assessment, treatment, early intervention, and management processes. Audiologists, speech-language pathologists, otolaryngologists, pediatricians, and other specialists may be involved depending on the child’s needs. The assessment, treatment, and management of hearing loss and related disorders in children involves interprofessional processes and collaboration. See the ASHA Practice Portal page on Early Intervention for more information. Early identification of hearing loss and implementation of intervention services have been shown to have positive outcomes on overall development in deaf and hard of hearing children (Moeller et al., 2016 Sininger et al., 2010 Yoshinaga-Itano et al., 2018). Unidentified hearing loss can impact early spoken language access. See the ASHA Practice Portal page on Childhood Hearing Screening for more information.Įxposure to language is critical to speech and language development, communication, literacy, learning, and psychosocial well-being. For this reason, audiologic monitoring over time is important for all children, especially for those who may be at risk for hearing loss. In addition, some mild hearing losses, hearing losses confined to specific frequency ranges, and auditory neuropathy may not be identified through newborn hearing screening due to limitations of the test equipment or testing methodology used.

Other cases of childhood hearing loss may have a later onset and/or be progressive in nature. See the ASHA Practice Portal page on Newborn Hearing Screening. Some children are identified with hearing loss during a newborn hearing screening conducted shortly after birth.


Hearing-related terminology may vary depending upon context and a range of factors.

See the Hearing Loss (Newborn) Evidence Map, the Hearing Loss (Early Childhood) Evidence Map, the Hearing Loss (School-Age) Evidence Map, and the Language and Communication of Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) Individuals Evidence Map for summaries of the available research on this topic. The scope of this page is hearing loss in children aged birth to 18 years.
