Hearing Loss is one of the most common congenital disorders. Early detection and management of Hearing Loss is crucial for the best speech, learning, and social development outcomes.
Recent research shows that up to 60% of previously unknown causes of congenital sensorineural Hearing Loss are actually due to gene mutations.
Children as young as a few hours old may be screened for Hearing Loss using specialised tests, such as the Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR).
A complete range of conventional, digital and bone conduction hearing aids is available. Nowadays, a cochlear implant device surgically placed into the inner ear allows profoundly deaf children and adults to hear. Auditory-verbal therapy post- implant is crucial as well.
Some children with normal hearing test results may still complain of Hearing Loss. They may be mistakenly diagnosed as lying, badly behaved or autistic. In fact, they may have disorders of processing sounds like Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), or hearing dys-synchronisation (Auditory Neuropathy). Special tests are performed to exclude the possibility of these conditions.
Click here to access our Find A Doctor directory for a list of doctors treating this condition across our NUHS institutions.
