Dimitrov Lilia, Gossman William
Imperial College Healthcare NHs
Creighton University
Pediatric hearing loss is a broad category that covers a wide range of pathologies. Early detection and prompt management are essential for the development of normal language and psychosocial functioning, as well as to identify potentially reversible causes or other underlying problems. Hearing is measured in decibels, and the severity of the hearing loss is graded by hearing thresholds. The normal hearing range is 0-20 decibels (dB) which equates to being able to perceive sound quieter than a whisper. Mild hearing loss corresponds to a range of 20-39 dB, moderate 40-69 dB, severe 70-89 dB, and profound is greater than 90 dB. There are three main types of hearing loss; conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. The former typically occurs due to a problem transmitting sounds at the level of the external or middle ear. The major cause of conductive hearing loss in children is otitis media with effusion (glue ear). Sensorineural hearing loss results from a disruption of the auditory pathway at any point from the cochlea of the inner ear through to the brainstem, and despite being relatively uncommon in children as a whole, it is the primary cause of permanent hearing loss in the pediatric population. Mixed hearing loss occurs when there are both conductive and sensorineural components.
小儿听力损失是一个涵盖广泛病理情况的大类。早期发现和及时处理对于正常语言及心理社会功能的发展至关重要，同时也有助于识别潜在的可逆病因或其他潜在问题。听力以分贝为单位进行测量，听力损失的严重程度通过听力阈值分级。正常听力范围是0至20分贝（dB），这相当于能够感知比耳语更轻的声音。轻度听力损失对应于20至39 dB的范围，中度为40至69 dB，重度为70至89 dB，极重度大于90 dB。听力损失主要有三种类型：传导性、感音神经性和混合性。前者通常是由于外耳或中耳水平传递声音出现问题所致。儿童传导性听力损失的主要原因是分泌性中耳炎（胶耳）。感音神经性听力损失是由从内耳耳蜗到脑干的听觉通路任何部位的中断引起的，尽管总体上在儿童中相对不常见，但它是小儿永久性听力损失的主要原因。当同时存在传导性和感音神经性成分时，就会发生混合性听力损失。
