An Invisible Threat

Without professional help, parents are almost powerless to detect hearing loss in their little ones before twelve months. And since children’s speech and language capabilities develop in their first three to four years of life, every day hearing loss goes undetected is a day lost in terms of a child’s potential to learn, hear and speak. Luckily, protecting your baby’s hearing has never been easier.

You can start preparing while you’re pregnant. “Know your family history,” says Brian Rubinstein, a pediatric plastic surgeon who specializes in head and neck surgery and craniofacial reconstruction at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville. If your family has a history of hearing loss at birth or at a young age, your child might be at a higher risk. This usually doesn’t apply to families with adults who develop hearing loss later in life.

Protection Starts with Detection
Until recently, infant hearing loss could go undetected for up to a year. Now, thanks to legislation that took effect in January 2008, California hospitals are legally required to screen newborns’ hearing before they can send babies home. “This very simple screening test is easy, safe and not invasive,” says Rubinstein. “Most children won’t have hearing loss, but just in case, it’s important to have that knowledge.”

If your newborn doesn’t pass the hospital screen, you will be scheduled for a re-screen. Even still, there may not be cause for worry, says Dr. Hallie Morrow, M.P.H. of the California Department of Health Care Services. An average of 2% of babies do not pass the initial hospital screening, yet at least half of that 2% pass their re-screen. “The point of the program,” Morrow explains, “is not to miss kids who have the condition.”

Should your child fail to pass the re-screen, a more in-depth appointment is needed with a diagnostic audiologist. Depending upon the results, you may be referred to California Children’s Services or your primary provider. Rest assured; these professionals will walk you through each step of the way, so your baby can get any care she might need. Over 90% of children with hearing loss have hearing parents, so questions are normal. To get answers, or to connect with other parents whose children have hearing loss, you can visitCommunicateWithYourChild.org, Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking (CCHAT) Sacramento and theHearing Loss Association of America.

Caitlin Garthoffner is Associate Director at the Let Them Hear Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to spreading knowledge for those with hearing loss. She writes for San-Francisco.SocialDiva.com and publications nationwide.