What term refers to hearing loss acquired before the development of speech and language skills, typically from birth to 2 years old?

The term that refers to hearing loss acquired before the development of speech and language skills is "prelingual." This type of hearing loss occurs during a critical period of linguistic development, which is typically from birth to around 2 years of age. During this time, the ability to hear and process sounds is crucial for language acquisition. Children who experience prelingual hearing loss may miss vital auditory input needed to develop spoken language, often leading to delays in communication skills.

In comparison, postlingual refers to hearing loss that occurs after language has been acquired, while perilingual pertains to hearing loss that occurs during language development, usually happening between ages 2 to 5. Translingual is not a commonly used term in the context of hearing loss or language acquisition. Therefore, "prelingual" is the most accurate and specific term for hearing loss occurring before speech and language development.