Hypoacusis during childhood. Diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

The evaluation of hearing is an important activity in paediatric practice, making it possible to confirm by different techniques whether the child hears well or not, a fact that might be suggested from other sources (the family, school). It is thus fundamental that this should be suitably evaluated since it will have an important incidence on the development of the child. Thus hypoacusis can be the cause of lack of adaptation or school failure, depending on age, or of language alterations. Different types of hypoacusis are described as well as techniques for its diagnosis and corresponding treatment. A reflection is offered on the problem of otitis media serous in primary care and its referral to the child ENT unit.