Hearing loss in babies: a sensitive issue that requires fast action

STAFA, Switzerland, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hearing loss is often associated with or seen as a sign of old age, however hearing loss can occur in children and even in infants. Every year, about 665,000 babies around the world are born with significant hearing loss.^[1] In the United States, approximately 2 out of 1,000 are born with hearing loss. The earlier that hearing loss is detected and managed, the more likely a child will develop age appropriate speech and language.

By the time a child is born, they have already had several months of experience of hearing in the womb. Their ability to hear and speak continues to develop after birth as they listen to and imitate voices and other acoustic stimuli in their environment. If the brain does not receive adequate acoustic stimuli because of an undetected hearing loss, the development of age appropriate speech and language can be delayed making it difficult to close the gap ."The building blocks for learning language are laid down during the very first few months of life," explains William Dickinson, Au.D., CCC-A, Vice President of Audiology, Phonak LLC.  "A child's ability to hear and speak is vital for emotional and social development and forms the basis for his or her later social, educational and professional life." That is why it is particularly important for hearing loss in babies to be detected and managed as early as possible.

Causes of hearing loss in babies
There are various causes of hearing loss in babies and they can occur at different times. "Approximately half of all pre-natal cases have a genetic component," says Dr. Dickinson. Other sources of hearing loss in babies can include: maternal infection during pregnancy (e.g. rubella) or substances consumed by her during the pregnancy (e.g. alcohol). Complications during birth (e.g. lack of oxygen), head injury, or untreated ear infections (e.g. inflammation of the middle ear) are also other causes of hearing loss. One type of hearing loss called Noise Induced Hearing Loss can easily be prevented in young children.  This type of hearing loss can be overlooked as the result of exposure to toys that are too loud. Children often have these loud toys close to their faces or near their ears they can cause irreversible damage to young ears. 

How can you tell if a baby has hearing loss?
In the United States, all hospitals and birthing clinics conduct newborn hearing screenings shortly after birth. "The screening does not take long, is completely painless and quickly establishes whether there is a need for further hearing evaluation or not," says Dr. Dickinson. "It is best carried out after the baby is at least a day old, because immediately after birth amniotic fluid and other debris may still be present in the ears, which can produce false test results."

Parents should note how their baby responds to sounds in their environment (e.g. blinking to a loud sound such as clapping) – if there is concern about the baby's reaction parents should contact their pediatrician. Another indication for possible hearing problems is if babies suddenly start to babble less, or if the noises they produce do not vary much in pitch.

Treatments for the smallest patients
If they suspect hearing loss, parents should immediately consult a pediatrician, pediatric audiologist (specializing in hearing disorders in children), pediatric hearing care professional (specially trained to work with children) or an ENT specialist. If hearing loss is diagnosed by the specialist, there are various possible treatment methods depending upon the hearing loss type:

• Conductive hearing loss: This is commonly caused by a cold or middle ear problems and appropriate medical treatment may help.
• Sensorineural hearing loss: This is a permanent type of hearing loss and addressed with amplification. If a hearing loss is diagnosed after complete hearing evaluation, then hearing instruments will be the first step in intervention Hearing instruments can be individually adapted by a pediatric hearing care professional, even during the first few months of life. When there is significant hearing loss where the individual cannot adequately benefit from appropriately fit amplification by a hearing aid, a cochlear implant may be a technology choice. This technology requires the expertise of an Ear Nose Specialist (ENT) because the implant requires surgical insertion into the cochlea.

Helpful tips for the parents of babies with hearing loss:

• Above all, babies with hearing loss need exactly the same as all children: the love, patience and attention of their parents.
• Even when their baby is still an infant, parents should try to maintain eye contact when speaking to them. Their facial expressions and gestures should match what they are saying.
• Hearing loss in your baby should not be a taboo subject: if it is spoken about openly from early on, it is easier for the parents, and later also the child, to treat it as something natural.
• The singer and Hear the World ambassador Joey McIntyre is a good example: he regularly speaks in public about his experiences with his son, who was born with hearing loss: http://www.hear-the-world.com/en/about-us/ambassadors/interviews-with-our-ambassadors/joey-mcintyre.html

You can find more information about hearing loss in babies at: http://www.hear-the-world.com/

About the Hear the World Foundation
By supporting the charitable Hear the World Foundation, Sonova is campaigning for equal opportunities and a better quality of life for people with hearing loss. As a leading manufacturer of hearing systems, the company feels socially responsible for contributing towards a world where everyone has the chance to enjoy good hearing. For instance, the Hear the World Foundation supports disadvantaged people with hearing loss around the world and gets involved in prevention and providing information. It focuses particularly on projects for children with hearing loss, to enable them to develop at the appropriate rate for their age. More than 60 famous ambassadors, including celebrities such as Plácido Domingo, Annie Lennox, Sting and Joss Stone, champion the Hear the World Foundation. For further information, go to www.hear-the-world.com. Connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld

 [1] 2009 CDC EHDI Hearing Screening & Follow-up Survey

SOURCE Hear the World Foundation