Management of Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss

Judith E C Lieu

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2015.07.006

Management of Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2015 Dec;48(6):1011-26. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2015.07.006. Epub 2015 Oct 9.

Author

Judith E C Lieu¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8115, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: lieuj@ent.wustl.edu.

PMID: 26443488
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2015.07.006

Abstract

Children with impaired hearing in one ear (unilateral hearing loss [UHL]) and normal hearing in the other ear experience challenges in understanding speech in noisy backgrounds and localizing the source of sounds in 3-dimensional space. They are at a high risk for speech and language delay and need educational help in school. However, definitive evidence of benefit from amplification is currently lacking to recommend placement of hearing aids or cochlear implants in all young children with UHL. Management of UHL in children should be guided by the child's development, performance in school, and personal/family values and preferences.

Keywords: Amplification; Children; Quality of life; Speech-language development; Unilateral hearing loss.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Cochlear Implantation / methods*
Cochlear Implants
Hearing Loss, Unilateral / rehabilitation*
Humans
Patient Education as Topic / methods*
Patient Preference*
Speech Perception