Unilateral Hearing Loss in Children

June 2021

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1 hour, 57 minutes

Unilateral Hearing Loss in Children: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go?
Since the mid 1980s, numerous studies have shown that school-age children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) may experience difficulties in a variety of areas that can affect communication access and academic performance. However, findings across studies are not always straightforward, with some studies suggesting that children with UHL may experience few difficulties specifically associated with their hearing loss when compared to peers with normal hearing. These conflicting observations complicate efforts to ensure the educational and audiological needs of children with UHL are met. For children with UHL, there also currently is no broad consensus regarding if and when amplification should be used and what amplification options are appropriate for this population. 
 
This presentation will address research regarding children with UHL, including the difficulties they may experience in complex acoustic environments. We also will address amplification options available for children with UHL, what research tells us about those options, and current recommendations for use.

Presented by Dawna Lewis, PhD
Dawna Lewis, PhD, is a Sr. Research Associate at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.  She has presented and published on topics involving pediatric audiology/amplification and hearing assistance technologies. Dr. Lewis is involved in research addressing issues related to hearing loss, amplification, and speech perception in children. Recent work has examined the impact of mild bilateral and unilateral hearing loss on children’s speech understanding in complex environments.