BHI Illuminates Link Between ADHD and Hearing Loss

October 2010

The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) and Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) want the public to be aware of the relationship between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and hearing loss/

BHI and hearing health professionals will be working to raise awareness of ADHD and the importance of including hearing checks as part of the AD/HD diagnosis process.

To ensure that the needs of children with AD/HD are fully met, BHI also is encouraging appropriate treatment by a hearing health professional when hearing loss and/or other auditory-related communication disorders are found to co-exist with ADHD.

Studies show that hearing loss frequently coexists with AD/HD. Children struggling with undiagnosed hearing loss often exhibit similar behavior characteristics as those with AD/HD. Academic performance, completing assignments, carrying out multistep directions, and sustaining attention during oral presentations can be problematic for children with either AD/HD or undetected hearing loss. Impulsiveness, acting out, inappropriate responses to questions, low self esteem, and difficulty with social interactions also challenge children struggling with either condition.

Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of BHI, said: "Parents, educators, pediatricians, and other healthcare providers cannot underestimate the impact of either AD/HD or hearing loss on a child's academic performance, social development, and self esteem."

BHI is encouraging hearing health professionals to disseminate information on ADHD and to publicize AD/HD awareness in their practices and communities.

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral disorder in children in the United States today, affecting 3 to 7 percent of school-aged children. At the same time, about 1.4 million young people in the United States have hearing loss, and only 12 percent of them receive the help they need. Studies show that children with even mild hearing loss, when left unaddressed, are at risk for learning, and other social, emotional, behavioral, and self-image problems.

For more information, visit www.CHADD.org or BHI at www.betterhearing.org.