Margaret A. Kenna

Hearing loss is a common symptom in children. It may be congenital or acquired and is classified as conductive hearing loss (CHL), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and mixed hearing loss (MHL).

CHL is very common in otitis media, otitis externa, cerumen impaction, ossicular abnormalities (both acquired and congenital), and middle ear cholesteatoma. CHL, MHL, or SNHL may be a presenting symptom of inner ear structural abnormalities, such as enlarged vestibular aqueduct or superior semicircular canal dehiscence.