Hearing Loss in Early Childhood

As we learn more about physiology of hearing and pathophysiology of hearing loss, the evidence has shown the function of the auditory nervous system can change without any detectable changes in morphology due to neural plasticity. This means that the function of specific parts of the nervous system change more or less permanently depending on how they are activated.  

​

Sound deprivation from either conductive hearing loss or sensorineural hearing loss can severely affect the normal development of the auditory nervous system during childhood, and even on the function of the mature nervous system.

​

Development of the auditory nervous system depends on appropriate stimulation early in life.  Deficits from insufficient stimulation during development is not reversible.