In an attempt to clarify international epidemiologic trends, a review of the published literature pertaining to childhood hearing loss is presented. Inconsistencies of methodology and classification, which complicate the interpretation of data and make difficult the quantification of the influence of genuine population differences, are discussed. Selective review of the literature allows certain crude statements to be made regarding childhood hearing loss. In developed countries, serous otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss in children, affecting up to two thirds of preschool children. In addition, 1.0-2.0/1000 children have bilateral SNHL of at least 50 dB. In underdeveloped countries, suppurative middle ear disease is common and is still frequently associated with either an intratemporal or intracranial complication. SNHL appears to occur almost twice as often as in developed countries, with a greater proportion being of infectious etiology. In specific populations, the Inuits, Amerindians and Aboriginals, acute and chronic suppurative otitis media are almost endemic, yet both cholesteatoma and serous otitis media are uncommon.