by Uma Shankari

Created on: October 07, 2009

After the initial euphoria over the birth of the baby, it's time for parents to ensure baby's hearing is sound.

Most hearing loss is congenital, but babies can develop hearing loss later too, especially if they were born prematurely, developed severe infections and had to be treated with certain antibiotic medications that was ototoxic. High levels of bilirubin (jaundice) in newborns can also damage the auditory nerves.

Because the baby doesn't hear well, the baby may lose the capacity to speak too. The absence of auditory stimulations can interfere with its cognitive development. Screening all newborns for hearing problems could make a big difference in kids' lives. Babies begin to develop speech and language in the earliest months of life. The sooner the hearing problems are identified, the sooner the kids can start programs to help them develop to their full potential.

In the late 1970s it was first discovered that for each sound which is heard by the ear, the ear itself produces a tiny corresponding sound. This 'echo', known as an otoacoustic emission, forms the basis for this screening test. In this test, a tiny, flexible plug is inserted into the baby's ear. Sounds are sent through the plug. A microphone in the plug records the otoacoustic emissions of the ear in reaction to the sounds. There are no emissions in a baby with hearing loss.

If there are no emissions, it does not necessarily mean the baby has a hearing loss. A newborn with normal hearing may fail the first screening due to debris in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear or moving/crying during the test. More specialized tests are prescribed to determine the cause. Early interventions can make a great deal of difference.

Parents should be aware of different milestones in the baby's growth. Normally babies as old as one or two months get startled by loud sounds. Around three months a crying baby is pacified by the mother's approaching steps. If you make a sound with a rattler, the baby starts moving its head towards the source of the sound. From six months onwards the baby starts making babbling sounds and by 18 months it may comprehend up to 40 words.

When the baby does not turn back when called or make happy gurgling sounds, alarm bells should start ringing for the parents. For most children the inability to speak stems from not being able to hear, and the parents must take him or her to the ENT specialist immediately. When the doctor prescribes the child a hearing aid or advises any surgery, it should be promptly followed.

With early detection, it is possible to help young children make best use of their residual hearing using specialized equipments, materials and teaching aids and get them ready to join mainstream schools.

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