The diagnosis of hearing loss in children: Common presentations and investigations

Hearing loss is a common disorder in the paediatric community, with between 1 and 3 per 1000 live births being affected with severe-to-profound loss. Without early diagnosis, the sequelae of this condition can affect the child's social and future professional development. Paediatricians may be the first clinicians to review and suspect hearing problems and therefore need a framework for further investigation and management. This article aims to give clinicians an overview of the management of hearing loss in children and to provide a logical approach to the detection, investigation and diagnosis of hearing impairment. The relevance of the early diagnosis cannot be overstated in order to negate and treat this disability, with its potential profound consequences.