Hearing loss is a common genetic disorder; in fact, approximately 1.4 out of every thousand children born in the United States has some form of hearing impairment. Even children who test normal as infants can develop a hearing impairment over time.
Early Intervention
When it comes to hearing loss, early intervention is important. Babies who are treated for hearing loss before six months of age tend to keep up with their peers as far as language skills. Those who receive delayed treatment often experience language delays or speech impairments. School-age children with untreated hearing loss may have trouble in school and may even be identified as trouble makers due to a perceived inability to follow direction.
Early Testing
It is important for children to be screened early. Babies as young as one month of age can benefit from hearing aids. Many hospitals offer in-hospital testing within a few days of birth, according to an expert of hearing aids Arizona. If you as the parent or caretaker can recognize the hearing loss early, you can help decrease the chance of having other developmental problems such as delayed speech.
Risk Factors
There is a genetic link for hearing loss. More than half of all children who experience hearing loss have a family member with a similar condition. Other risk factors include prenatal exposure to an infection, such as CMV or toxoplasmosis, premature birth, chronic ear infections and severe head trauma.
Warning Signs in Babies
Infants have a natural startle reaction to loud noises. Those not showing signs of this reaction should be tested, even if they passed the newborn screening. By three months, the child should start to recognize the sounds of his or her parents’ voices, and, by six months, the child should be able to turn or look at the source of a sound, whether it be the parents voice or a melody. Children with partial hearing loss may also seem to respond to certain sounds but ignore others. By one year of age, the child should begin to say simple words.
Warning Signs in Older Children
Delayed and thick speech is a major concern in older children. By age two, parents and other caretakers should be able to understand about half of what the child says. By age four, speech should be clear enough that even strangers understand what the child is saying. Children who are not reaching the milestones for their age group may be experiencing some form of hearing loss or other developmental delay that should be addressed.
It is important for caregivers to keep an eye on the child’s development. Hearing loss can present itself in several ways. The good news is that early intervention and treatment can help the child reach their developmental milestones.