Congenital and Neonatally Acquired Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital diagnoses, recognized in large part by a robust newborn hearing screening program. Ensuring appropriate follow-up of failed newborn hearing screening is crucial to avoid delay in initiation of treatment for hearing loss. The most common etiology for congenital hearing loss is genetic, but some cases can be acquired. Understanding of the etiology aids in counseling for the family and in direction of treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment results in dramatically improved speech and developmental outcomes for affected children. Treatment including amplification, speech therapy, adaptations in the classroom, and family support leads to gains in academic performance, parental satisfaction, and quality of life. Early cochlear implantation has been shown to be beneficial in obtaining speech and language skills in patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and should be considered in the appropriate patient population. [.