Congenital hearing loss
Some people are born with hearing loss, which is either hereditary (genetic) or caused during pregnancy or childbirth. Today, most children are screened after birth, so doctors can detect hearing loss in infancy. However, mild congenital hearing loss may go undetected for a long period of time, be present only in one ear, or develop later in life. Screening for hearing loss as routine practice in infants is relatively new, so older generations may not have been screened for congenital hearing loss, and decades may go by before it is discovered. Do you have concerns? Read on to learn the facts.