Children With Mild Bilateral and Unilateral Hearing Loss: Parents’ Reflections on Experiences and Outcomes

Children with mild bilateral and unilateral hearing loss are now commonly identified early through newborn hearing
screening initiatives. There remains considerable uncertainty about how to support parents and about which services
to provide for children with mild bilateral and unilateral hearing loss. The goal of this study was to learn about parents’
experiences and understand, from their perspectives, the impact of hearing loss in the mild range on the child’s
functioning. Parents of 20 children in Ontario, Canada, participated in the study. The median age of identification of
hearing loss was 4.6 months (interquartile range: 3.6, 10.8). Parents appreciated learning early about hearing loss, but their
experiences with the early process were mixed. Parents felt that professionals minimized the importance of milder hearing
loss. There was substantial uncertainty about the need for hearing aids and the findings suggest that parents need specific
guidance. Parents expressed concerns about the potential impact of hearing loss on their child’s development, particularly
at later ages.