Can a child have permanent hearing loss due to a fall when they were a baby?
Possibly, but it would have to be an extreme fall. Severe head trauma can cause rupturing of the cochlea, which would cause irreparable damage. It could also damage the 8th cranial nerve, which would cause a permanent damage as well. This kind of injury would have to come from something like falling down several flights of stairs. Most hearing loss cannot be explained. The most likely cause is genetics–something that cannot specifically be pinpointed and may not be present in any other family member–it’s just a game of gene matchup. No matter what the cause, though, there are definitely many rehab options. See an audiologist to talk about hearing aids if you haven’t already done so. And of course, if you’re unsatisfied with the results you get from one AuD, you should definitely go get a second opinion. Good luck.
