It Is Important to Have Your Baby's Hearing Checked
As many as 3 of every 1,000 babies are born in the United States each year with hearing loss. Your baby can't tell you if he or she can't hear. Babies who do not hear your voice, a lullaby or a nursery rhyme may have problems learning to talk.
It is vitally important to have your baby's hearing tested before you leave the hospital. Hearing problems need to be identified as early as possible so that you make take actions that give your baby the best chance to develop speech and language.
Why Should My Baby's Hearing Be Screened?
Hearing loss is a hidden disability; that's why it is so important to have your baby's hearing evaluated. Each year, more than 4,000 babies are born with hearing loss. Most babies born with hearing problems are otherwise healthy and have no family history of hearing loss.
It is important for you to be sure that your baby has normal hearing. It is unlikely that your baby will have a hearing loss; however, the only way to know is to have your baby's hearing tested as early as possible. The first year of life is critical to the development of normal speech and language.
How will my baby's screening test be done?
There are two types of hearing screening tests that may be used with your baby. Both tests are very safe and take only minutes to evaluate each ear. Most babies sleep through their hearing screening test.
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Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) tests the infant's ability to hear soft sounds through miniature earphones. Sensors measure your baby's brainwaves to determine if soft sounds can be heard.
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Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) are measured directly with a miniature microphone and sent to a special computer to determine your baby's hearing status.
What if my baby does not pass the test?
There are many reasons your baby may not "pass" the first hearing test and require a second evaluation. Perhaps your baby was too active, too wide-awake, or you were discharged from the hospital before the hearing test was completed.
It is important that you follow through with any recommendations made by your audiologist, hospital staff member and/or physician. Remember, your baby's hearing can be tested at any age.
If my baby passes the screening, do I need to have the hearing checked again?
Hearing screening tests can usually confirm that your baby has normal hearing. However, hearing problems in your baby can develop after you leave the hospital. If anyone in your family has hearing loss, your baby should be tested every year.
If you ever have concerns about your child's hearing, speech or language, be sure to discuss them with your audiologist and/or physician.
The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) Year 2007 Position Statement
The American Academy of Audiology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Council on Education of the Deaf, and the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies have joined together to endorse universal detection of infants with hearing loss. The goal is that all infants with hearing loss will be identified before 3 months of age and receive intervention by 6 months of age.
Speech, Language & Hearing Skills
Here is a list of some things an infant with normal hearing should be able to do:
Around Two Months of Age:
- Startles to loud sound
- Quiets to familiar voices
- Makes vowel sounds like "ohh," "ahh"
Around Four Months of Age:
- Looks for sound sources
- Starts babbling
- Uses a variety of voice sounds, squeals and chuckles
Around Six Months of Age:
- Turns head toward loud sound
- Begins to imitate speech sound
- Babbles ("baba," "mama," "gaga")
Around Nine Months of Age:
- Imitates speech sounds of others
- Understands "no-no" or "bye-bye"
- Turns head toward soft sounds
Around 12 Months of Age:
- Correctly uses "mama" or "dada"
- Gives toy when asked
- Responds to singing or music
- Readily turns toward all sounds