About one in every ten people in the U.S. have major hearing
loss. About 90-95% of the hearing impaired population have correctable hearing
loss. About 5%-10% can be helped medically or surgically (including cochlear
implants). The other 90%-95% can correct their hearing loss with hearing aids.
Hearing aids cannot totally restore hearing, but they can make a big difference
in improving the quality of life of people with hearing loss.
What are some of the signs of hearing loss specific to children?
a) not responding to someone talking out-of-view, particularly with little
distraction
b) using what? or huh? frequently
c) intently watching the faces of speakers
d) sitting close to TV with volume high or turning up volume on stereo.
e) switching ears frequently on the phone
f) not being startled by intense sounds
g) in infants, not turning head toward sound
h) speech does not appear to be developing normally (e.g. some recognizable
words by 12 months)