The hearing loss is among of the diseases,that can be detected early ,in the new born or baby stages of development.
This possibility of a correct evaluation of the hearing,at these ages,allow to detect the cause and to establish the type of hearing loss. The therapeutically approaches in these days ,try with good results,the surgical corrective treatment and special education for this handicap.

The goal of multi therapeutic approaches in the child's handicap ,is the social integration.The accent on social skills development, help these disable children to be accepted by their mates with normal hearing.

Type of hearing loss depends on the part of the ear and acoustic nerve(8th nerve),affected.These are:
- Conductive hearing loss,when the lesion affect external auditory canal or middle ear.
- Sensory neural loss. When the lesion is in the inner ear(cochlea) the loss of hearing
is sensory type.If the 8th nerve is involved,this type is neural.
These distinction is very important in order to treat the cause in the involved anatomical segment.

The causes of hearing loss:
1. Congenital hearing loss is appreciated too be 1/600 new-borns.
2. Neonatal high-risk for hearing loss:
a. If the weight at the birth is 1500 g and under,can be an hearing loss due to neural immaturity.
b. Apgar score less than 5 at 5 minutes,being an expression of oxygenation
deficiency,can be detected among the cause of hearing loss.
c. In some new-born with high serum bilirubin level.also is mentioned as an etiological condition.
d. Neonatal sepsis and meningitis ,is a frequent cause.
e. Congenital intrauterine infections: rubella,cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis are among the frequent infections,responsible for hearing loss.

3. Later in childhood period can be::
a. Infections of the ear,with eardrum perforations and severe scars.
b. Internal ear infection,with cochlear impairment..
c. Infection ,inflammation of the 8th cranial nerve ( acoustic nerve) during the meningitis infection..

d. Loss of hearing after the treatment with aminoglycoside drugs.
e. Post parotide gland infection.
f. Tumor of acoustic nerve.
g. Trauma of the acoustic nerve..
h. Repeated,constant of the noisy environment ( non protection of the hearing in places ,where are generated noises,listen inappropriate of the loudly music).
The family has to report any suspicion in lack of reaction of the baby at the auditory stimulus.The physician,ENT specialist.the audiologist and speech therapist,has to evaluate the degree of hearing loss,the possible cause and the best therapeutically recommendation.
The good results are recorded in majority of cases of hearing loss,detected as early as new-born.

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