Warning Signs of Hearing Problem in a Baby
Newborn hearing screening is designed to detect hearing loss as early as possible. However, a few babies can pass a hearing test and still have hearing loss. Some develop hearing loss later in childhood due to illness or certain genetic conditions.
Most babies who have a hearing problem do not communicate or have difficulty in doing so. This is because the speech and language skills can’t be developed without a hearing input. Many hearing losses found in babies can be temporary due to conditions such as wax build-up in the baby’s ear or a mild infection. A pediatric audiologist can carry out confirmed tests about the severity of a hearing loss.
An undiagnosed hearing loss can cause emotional and developmental problems later on in your child’s life. Thus it is extremely important to get your baby’s hearing screening done periodically so that treatment can be started at its earliest.
Specific Conditions Leading to Hearing Impairments in Babies
Your baby might be at a higher risk of hearing impairment if he/she has been through either of the following conditions:
- Your baby gets frequent ear infections
- The baby was born prematurely
- There were complications during birth
- Some high dosage medicines can lead to hearing impairments
- Your baby was weak at birth and stayed at the neonatal intensive care unit for a certain time
Warning Signs of Hearing Impairments in Babies
A baby’s hearing impairment may vary depending on genetics or may be congenital or transient. However, if you see any red flags from the following signs based on the age of your baby, you must visit a pediatrician immediately.
Newborn to 3 Months
- The baby doesn’t startle to loud noises like that of thunder
- Isn’t responsive to video or audio clips
- When calling out to the baby or playing music around a sleeping baby, he doesn’t wake up
- When 2 months, babies must make a vowel sound example “oo”
- A familiar doesn’t sound pacify the baby and he seems to have not heard it
4- 8 Months of Age
- Baby is not turning head towards a sound that can’t be seen
- When given toys that make a sound like a rattler, the baby doesn’t seem amused seems to be ignoring its sounds
- The baby can’t differentiate between a “no” and a change of tone in your voice
- At 6 months of age, babies mostly must immediate sounds
- Doesn’t respond to all kinds of sounds
- Responds to vibrating objects by feel and not sound
- Baby doesn’t babble to herself or try to communicate back when talked to
9-12 Months of Age
- Baby doesn’t respond to his or her name
- By 12 months, the baby doesn’t say basic words like “mama” and “dada”
- Baby’s babbling doesn’t vary in pitch
- Baby doesn’t respond to soft sounds such as a “hush”
Conclusion
If your baby is unable to achieve the hearing milestones checklist, then there is a possibility that your child may be suffering from a hearing loss. But hey! You don’t need to be worried. Treatments such as cochlear implants, hearing aids, assistive listening devices for babies who are hard at hearing and speech therapy are some of the highest recommended and effective treatments to overcome a hearing loss. Talk to your doctor about treatment plans.
Related:
12 THINGS I REGRET NOT DOING TO MY BABY IN HIS FIRST YEAR
BABY DEVELOPMENT: FIRST-YEAR MILESTONES
HOW TO HELP YOUR BABY FALL ASLEEP FASTER
