How do I know if my baby has hearing loss?
Knowing the signs of hearing loss are imperative in determining whether or not your infant is suffering from one of the most common birth defects seen in newborns. Although the CDC requires a screening shortly after the child is born, there are other signs that you want to look out for in order to determine if your newest addition is facing potential hearing loss. For instance, if you find that they are not easily startled by loud sounds, this could be an indicator that something needs to be looked at.
Key Takeaways:
- About 1 in every 1000 US-born infants are born annually with some degree of hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can be a birth defect, which is a health condition that is present from birth.
- Your baby may be unable to hear from one, or from either ear, the hearing loss may be subtle, or it can be profound enough that she hears nothing at all.
“If your baby doesn’t pass her newborn hearing screening, it doesn’t always mean she has hearing loss. She may just need to be screened again. If your baby doesn’t pass a second time, it’s very important that she gets a full hearing test as soon as possible and before she’s 3 months old. This can help her providers diagnose hearing loss early.”