Early detection and intervention for hearing loss is crucial for infants as hearing impairments can affect speech development, language and social skills. Most hospitals perform the newborn hearing screening before the baby is discharged.
Some babies do not pass their newborn hearing screening and it could be due to the following reasons:
If your baby doesn’t pass the newborn hearing screening, they need a full hearing test from a qualified audiologist with pediatric experience as soon as possible before three-months old. A full hearing test can help your baby’s healthcare provider diagnose hearing loss early enough to begin intervention during the critical period for language development.
A few babies can pass a hearing test and still have hearing loss. Some develop hearing loss later in childhood due to illness or certain genetic conditions. Even if your child has passed a hearing screening before, it is important to look out for the following signs:
It's important to note the above symptoms can stem from a range of developmental disabilities and doesn't necessarily mean your child's hearing is impaired.
Babies may lose their hearing for a range of additional reasons. These may include:
If your child has been diagnosed with hearing loss or you see signs of potential hearing impairments, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute can help. If follow-up testing shows a hearing loss, the next step will be developing an intervention plan, which may include medical treatment, additional testing, or hearing aids. It is important to begin this process as early as possible. Your baby’s development in the first few months of life is crucial for communication and cognitive development.
Early screening, diagnosis and treatment can help children with hearing loss develop speech, language and social skills.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric audiologists.