How to Know if My Baby Has Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss in Children

Hearing loss can bear on a child's ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more than probable they are to reach their total potential. If you think that a kid might have hearing loss, inquire the child's doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don't wait!

What is Hearing Loss?

A hearing loss can happen when any office of the ear is not working in the usual fashion. This includes the outer ear, center ear, inner ear, hearing (acoustic) nerve, and auditory organization.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hearing loss are unlike for each kid. If you think that your child might have hearing loss, ask the child's doctor for a hearing screening equally soon as possible. Don't look!

Even if a child has passed a hearing screening before, information technology is important to expect out for the following signs.

Signs in Babies

• Does not startle at loud noises.
• Does not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age.
• Does non say single words, such as "dada" or "mama" by 1 twelvemonth of historic period.
• Turns head when he or she sees you merely not if you but telephone call out his or her proper name. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.
• Seems to hear some sounds but non others.

Signs in Children

• Voice communication is delayed.
• Speech is not clear.
• Does not follow directions. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attending or just ignoring, simply could be the result of a partial or consummate hearing loss.
• Oftentimes says, "Huh?"
• Turns the Tv volume up likewise high.

Babies and children should reach milestones in how they play, learn, communicate and deed. A filibuster in any of these milestones could exist a sign of hearing loss or other developmental trouble. Visit our web folio to encounter milestones that children should reach from two months to five years of age.

Screening and Diagnosis

Hearing screening can tell if a kid might have hearing loss. Hearing screening is piece of cake and is not painful. In fact, babies are often asleep while existence screened. It takes a very short time — usually merely a few minutes.

Babies

All babies should accept a hearing screening no later than 1 month of age. Most babies have their hearing screened while withal in the infirmary. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it'due south very important to go a full hearing test as soon as possible, only no subsequently than three months of age.

Children

Children should have their hearing tested before they enter school or any time there is a concern virtually the child'southward hearing. Children who do non pass the hearing screening need to get a full hearing test as before long as possible.

Learn more about screening and diagnosis »

Treatments and Intervention Services

No single treatment or intervention is the answer for every person or family. Good treatment plans will include shut monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the style. There are many different types of communication options for children with hearing loss and for their families. Some of these options include:

• Learning other ways to communicate, such as sign language
• Technology to help with communication, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants
• Medicine and surgery to correct some types of hearing loss
• Family support services

Acquire more than about treatments and intervention services »

Causes and Risk Factors

Hearing loss can happen whatsoever time during life – from before nascence to adulthood.

Following are some of the things that tin increase the adventure that a kid will have hearing loss:

• A genetic cause: About 1 out of 2 cases of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes. Some babies with a genetic cause for their hearing loss might take family members who also take a hearing loss. Nearly one out of 3 babies with genetic hearing loss have a "syndrome." This means they take other conditions in addition to the hearing loss, such equally Down syndrome or Conductor syndrome. Acquire more nearly the genetics of hearing loss »
• 1 out of 4 cases of hearing loss in babies is due to maternal infections during pregnancy, complications after nascency, and caput trauma. For case, the child:
  • Was exposed to infection, such as , before birth
  • Spent 5 days or more in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or had complications while in the NICU
  • Needed a special procedure like a claret transfusion to treat bad jaundice
  • Has head, face or ears shaped or formed in a different style than usual
  • Has a status similar a neurological disorder that may exist associated with hearing loss
  • Had an infection around the brain and spinal cord called meningitis
  • Received a bad injury to the head that required a hospital stay
• For well-nigh 1 out of four babies built-in with hearing loss, the cause is unknown.

Prevention

Following are tips for parents to help forbid hearing loss in their children:

• Accept a healthy pregnancy.
• Make sure your kid gets all the regular childhood vaccines.
• Keep your kid away from high noise levels, such as from very loud toys. Visit the National Institutes of Health's websiteexternal icon to learn more than about preventing noise-induced hearing loss.

Get Assistance!

• If you think that your child might accept hearing loss, ask the kid's doctor for a hearing screening as before long as possible. Don't look!
• If your kid does not laissez passer a hearing screening, ask the child'southward doctor for a total hearing examination as before long as possible.
• If your child has hearing loss, talk to the child's dr. about handling and intervention services.

Hearing loss tin can bear upon a child's power to develop spoken communication, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss showtime getting services, the more probable they are to reach their full potential. If yous are a parent and you suspect your child has hearing loss, trust your instincts and speak with your kid'due south doctor.

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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/facts.html

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