Adults with CP commonly have some level of hearing impairment. In Australia, 1 in 20 people with cerebral palsy have some level of hearing impairment.

There are several types of impairment — some are temporary, caused by an inner ear infection or too much ear wax, some are treatable with medication, and others are correctable with hearing aids or surgery.

Hearing impairment can happen over time. As we age, our hearing often deteriorates, even without having CP.

Hearing impairment can have an impact on your quality of life. It can affect how you communicate, making study, work and social situations more challenging, and leading to feelings of isolation.

Talk to your healthcare team about getting a hearing assessment any time you believe you are not hearing clearly. Remember that treatment for hearing impairment and advances in hearing technology are constantly evolving. For example, you may have unsuccessfully tried hearing aids in the past, but there might be new models that would work much better for you now.

There are two main types of hearing impairment:

• Conductive hearing loss includes anything that stops sound from travelling from outside the ear to inside the ear, such as wax, inner ear infections, inflammation or a buildup of fluid in the middle ear caused by infection.
• Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the structures or nerves of the inner ear. This can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. It is usually lifelong and may worsen over time.

Mixed hearing impairment involves both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss is often temporary. It can usually be treated with surgery, medication or hearing aids, which bypass damaged nerve receptors in the ear to receive more sounds.

Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and is usually treated with hearing aids or, in some cases, a cochlear implant. This device uses two mechanical parts to collect and convert sounds into electrical impulses, which are then sent to the brain as sounds. One part is inserted inside the ear under the skin, and the other is worn behind the ear.

Hearing loss may not be a permanent disability for a person with CP and can be managed well with the rights supports.