Common Causes of Hearing Loss in Children - Otitis Media

There are several causes of hearing loss in children. Some of these, if caught early, can be treated. Otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss among children. Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear, the area directly behind the eardrum. This inflammation is usually associated with the buildup of fluid in which may or may not be infected. This is one of the most common causes of ear infections in children, many of whom suffer from it frequently, especially in their early years. If left untreated or if it occurs frequently, children can suffer hearing loss.

Symptoms, severity, frequency, and length of the condition can vary from one child or another or from one episode to the next. A mild episode of otitis media would involve thin, non-infected fluid in the ear with no pain or fever but with a slight decrease in hearing loss. This usually lasts for a short period of time and the hearing that is lost often returns. The other extreme involves repeated bouts of otitis media with infection, thick fluid and possible complications such as permanent hearing loss.

Fluctuating temporary hearing loss almost always occurs with all types of otitis media. Otitis media is the most frequently diagnosed disease in infants and small children. While the hearing loss is usually not permanent, repeated infections can cause permanent damage to the ears which, in turn, causes a loss of hearing that cannot be regained.

As with adults, certain medications can also cause deafness in children. Often times, the hearing that is lost does not return. There are also various diseases that children may suffer from early on that can cause hearing impairment or deafness.