Hearing Loss in Babies

Before your newborn leaves the hospital or birthing center, your baby needs to have
a hearing test. This is a painless and short test that will be explained to you before
it is done. You should be given the results of this test before you take your baby
home.
Although most babies can hear normally, 1 to 3 out of every 1000 babies are born with
some degree of hearing loss. However, without screening or testing, hearing loss may
not be noticed until the baby is more than one year old. If hearing loss is not found
until later years, there will not be stimulation of the brain's hearing centers. This
can affect the maturation and development of hearing. It can also delay speech and
language. Social and emotional development and success in school may also be affected.
Many of the complications of hearing loss can be prevented with diagnosis and treatment
before 6 months of age.
Most hearing loss is present at birth (congenital), but some babies develop hearing
loss after they are born. Hearing loss is more likely in premature babies and babies
with respiratory problems who have needed long-term use of breathing machines. It
also happens in those with previous infections, and those taking certain medicines.
Because of these risks, many health organizations, including the National Institutes
of Health, the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, the American Academy of Pediatrics,
and the American Academy of Audiology, now recommend universal infant hearing screening.
This means all newborn babies should be screened for hearing loss. Most often, the
parents are the first to find hearing loss in their child.