Hearing Impairment & Social Communication

Neurodiversity Hub Wirral

Different Types of Hearing Loss

There are two main types of hearing loss.

The first type happens when there is a problem in the inner ear, usually in the cochlea (the part of the ear that turns sound into signals the brain can understand). This type is called sensorineural deafness. It is permanent.

Sensorineural hearing loss can be:

  • mild

  • moderate

  • severe

  • profound

A child may have different levels of hearing loss in each ear. Very few children are totally deaf.

The second type of hearing loss happens when sound cannot pass well through the outer or middle ear. This means sound does not reach the cochlea and the auditory nerve clearly. The most common cause is a build‑up of fluid in the middle ear, often called glue ear. This type of hearing loss is called conductive deafness. It is the most common type of hearing loss in children.

Conductive hearing loss often changes from day to day and is usually temporary.

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  • Hearing loss can affect many areas of a child’s development, especially communication and social skills.

    A child may use:

    • sign language

    • speech

    • or a mix of both

    If a child does not feel confident in social situations, they might become quiet or withdrawn. They may stay on the edge of group activities or prefer to spend time with one trusted adult rather than join in with other children.

    Find out more information

  • Use Play to Support Social Skills

    Play helps your child learn how to:

    • share attention

    • take turns

    • enjoy the same activity as someone else

    • cooperate

    • use toys in a safe and meaningful way

    Short, fun play sessions can help your child build these skills.

    • Help your child name and talk about their own feelings.

    • Show them what different emotions look like in other people.

    • You can use pictures, stories, or simple faces drawn on paper.

  • Help Your Child Learn About Other People’s Feelings

    Empathy means understanding how someone else feels.

    Talk about feelings during everyday events. For example:

    • “They look worried because it is noisy.”

    • “They look happy because they got a turn.”

    This helps your child learn how to notice clues in people’s faces and actions.

  • Social stories are short stories that explain situations in a clear, simple way. They help children understand:

    • what will happen

    • what others might do

    • what the child can do in response

    Social stories are useful when a child finds a social situation confusing or stressful.

    More information about using social stories