Hearing loss in people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities are more likely to experience hearing loss than the general population, but are less likely to have their hearing problem diagnosed or managed. Difficulties in access, misconceptions around assessment and a lack of aftercare are all factors in this.

Undiagnosed hearing loss can cause significant problems in the life of a person with learning disabilities. Basic training could make a difference and a simple checklist to identify possible hearing difficulties is presented. 

Hearing loss

Hearing loss is the inability to hear sound, either partially or totally. The spectrum of hearing loss is vast. It can range from a mild difficulty affecting only certain pitches of sound in one ear, to a total hearing loss in both ears.

Hearing is tested by an audiologist, using pure tone audiometry: the person being tested wears headphones and presses a button every time they hear a sound. The sounds are