Causes of hearing impairment
The causes of infantile hearing impairment are diverse. The main ones are high-risk pregnancies, different infectious diseases, taking certain medicines, alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy. And,
although less common, hereditary irregularities and infantile meningitis
are also possible causes.
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Risk factors which can play a role before, during or shortly after birth:
- Weight at birth below 1,500 g and/or birth before the 32nd week of pregnancy
- Lack of oxygen or respiratory standstill
- Administration of ototoxic medicines (loop diuretics, aminoglycosides)
- Mechanical birth injuries
In approximately 50% of all hearing-impaired children, the hearing impairment occurs after birth.
Examples are:
- In babies and infants afflicted by bacterial meningitis or encephalitis
- After severe cases of measles or mumps
- After accidents
- Following chemotherapy
- After chronic ear inflammations
- In children who suffer from certain syndromes (e.g. Moebius' syndrome, congenital multiple arthrogryposis, etc.)
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One should also consider the possibility of hearing damage in:
- Children with minor and severe middle ear malformations (e.g. Franceschetti's syndrome)
- Children with cerebral motor disturbances
- Children in whom speech does not develop at all or not any further
- Children exhibiting abnormal behaviour, i.e. by being very loud, aggressive or completely still
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