This digest discusses hearing loss in children. Topics covered include: (1) the causes of hearing loss and the three major types of hearing losses, conductive loss, sensorineural loss, and central auditory processing disorder; (2) the federal definitions of "deaf" (hearing loss which adversely affects educational performance and which is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification), "hard of hearing" (hearing loss that adversely affects a child's educational performance but which allows the child access to some degree of communication with or without amplification), and "Deaf" with a capital "D" (refers to those individuals with hearing losses who identify themselves with the Deaf Culture); (3) the incidence of hearing loss; (4) the signs of hearing loss, including attention problems, lack of vocal interactions or reduced vocal interactions, frustration with school and others, or low grades or a drop in grades; (5) different communication strategies of children with hearing loss, including the auditory-oral philosophy, cued speech, English-based sign systems, the bilingual-bicultural philosophy, total communication, and cochlear implants; (6) the different education settings for children with hearing impairments; and (7) the different types of technology available for people with hearing impairments. Contains 10 references. (CR)