Single Sided Deafness in Children

In this episode, pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Anita Jeyakumar joins Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss screening, counseling, and treatment options for single sided deafness in children.

Dr. Jeyakumar starts by outlining referral patterns for single sided deafness, which can arise from newborn or pediatric hearing screenings. When counseling families on the importance of close monitoring and early intervention, Dr. Jeyakumar believes that it is crucial to fully explain how hearing loss can affect academic success, social interactions, and general safety: When a child has retained normal hearing in one ear, their speech is usually unaffected. However, the child will likely struggle with cognitive overload and cognitive fatigue when relying solely on the hearing ear. The child can also feel overwhelmed with trying to hear in noisy social situations. As the child gets older, untreated hearing loss can also put them at risk in potentially hazardous scenarios, such as crossing busy intersections, and eventually, driving.

The doctors discuss imaging modalities such as CT and MRI. Dr. Jeyakumar prefers MRI, since it can identify hypoplastic and aplastic auditory nerves.

Finally, the doctors highlight a range of treatment options, including the use of CROS hearing aids, bone conduction hearing aids, and cochlear implantation. With all of these technologies, it is important to keep in mind the patient’s age, infection risk, cosmetic concerns, and insurance coverage. Dr. Jeyakumar emphasizes that staying in contact with the family is important, as children may need treatment adjustments due to changes in schooling and geographic location.