The challenge of hearing impairments in children.

Preschool children with suspected impairment of hearing present the challenge of early recognition and prompt referral for diagnosis. Unfortunately, referral is seldom prompt. Most of this delay stems from most primary care physicians' unwillingness to listen to parents' opinions, their lack of knowledge about deafness in children, failure to perform routine screening tests for hearing, and reluctance to refer to a proper diagnostic facility.This paper outlines manifestations of deafness in early childhood, simple office hearing tests, and selection of patients for referral.