Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss

Mild bilateral hearing loss (MBHL) is a decrease in hearing in both ears. MBHL falls just outside of the normal range and is less severe than other degrees of hearing loss. This can be caused by damage, disease, genetics or malformation of the outer, middle or inner ear. Your child may not appear to have an obvious hearing loss, and therefore you likely have had few concerns. However, mild hearing loss can still affect your child.

Compared to children with normal hearing sensitivity, children with MBHL are more likely to:

• Show delays in speech and language development.
• Have difficulty paying attention or following directions or discussions in a noisy environment.
• Lack social and communication skills.
• Do poorly in school compared to their peers.
  
  • Children with MBHL often fall within the lower end of the normal range on standardized tests, indicating that these children may not be meeting their full potential.

These guidelines will help minimize potential problems for your child.

• Get your child’s hearing tested at least each year. It is important to track any changes in their hearing.
• If you suspect your child’s hearing loss is getting worse, have their hearing evaluated right away.
• Always protect your child’s hearing with earplugs or earmuffs during activities with high levels of noise such as loud music, firearms, snowmobiling, fireworks and lawn mowing.
• Get prompt treatment for ear infections. This is to avoid temporary additional hearing loss on top of your child’s existing hearing loss.

• Always get your child’s attention before you start talking with them or give instructions.
• Ensure that your child can see your face and mouth well when speaking to them. Use of visual cues improves communication even for those with normal hearing.
• Rephrase rather than repeat statements and instructions if your child misunderstands.
• Be aware of your environment and minimize background noise as much as possible.
• Inform teachers and classroom aides about your child’s hearing loss.
• Have your child sit close to the teacher to reduce distance and improve access to visual cues.
• Stay aware of how your child is doing in school as prompt intervention may help reduce problems in school.
• Check in with the teacher and ask questions.

S-P-E-E-C-H may help you to remember steps for easier communication:

S - State the topic to be discussed before starting a conversation.

P - Pace your conversation at a moderate rate and normal loudness. Pause occasionally to help your child understand.

E - Enunciate and pronounce words clearly. Don’t exaggerate your lip movements.

E - Enthusiastically communicate, using natural body language and gestures.

CH - Check with your child to make sure they understand your message before changing topics.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, consider an auditory skills assessment. The speech-language pathologists who work in the Childhood Communication Center specialize in working with children with hearing loss.

Keep in mind that even if a child seems to be hearing well enough or “getting by,” they may still benefit from amplification. Your child may be eligible to use hearing devices or assistive listening devices, such as an FM/DM system. However, whether or not a child with mild hearing loss is a candidate for these devices is not as straightforward as it is for those with greater degrees of hearing loss. Talk with your child’s audiologist and educational team about possible management options. Your child’s audiologist may be able to determine if there is an option to trial devices first. Some devices will require clearance from your child’s ear doctor.