Congenital Hearing Loss – Overview, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies

Abstract

Congenital hearing loss, i.e., hearing loss that presents during the perinatal period from the 20th week of gestation to the 28th day of birth, is a prevalent cause of physiological and social morbidity in pediatric patient development. Hearing loss may be hereditary or acquired, with the former including syndromic and nonsyndromic causes and the latter consisting of infections and ototoxic medication exposure. With the help of various diagnostic tools and universal newborn hearing screening programs, many of these patients may be identified early and intervened to improve long-term outcomes. Interventions may include amplification, otologic surgeries, cochlear implantation, and brainstem auditory implants.