Can hearing impairment cause autism?
Disease description:
After the child was born, a hearing impairment was detected during examination. Now, at age three, the child shows some signs of autism, raising concern that the hearing impairment may be the cause. Can hearing impairment lead to autism?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xie Zixing
Hearing impairment generally does not cause autism. Individuals with autism typically do not have hearing deficits; however, they often experience language impairments, which may subsequently affect a child’s normal communication and social interaction. During childhood, behaviors such as difficulty regulating emotions (e.g., frequent tantrums or uncontrollable crying) or age-inappropriate speech delays warrant attention, as these may be signs of autism.
