Hearing loss in infants

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According to statistics of the World Health Organization, at least 1 to 3 babies out of every 1000 have hearing loss, this number is higher in developing countries like Vietnam. If not detected and intervened early, hearing loss will affect language ability as well as communication skills, and children also face many difficulties in learning and living.

1. Is hearing loss in babies dangerous?

Hearing loss in babies is not dangerous for children, but parents need to pay special attention to this issue. Most babies are born with perfect hearing. But about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 babies are born with a hearing loss, which is the most common birth defect (some babies need care in a special room for at-risk babies). children have higher levels of hearing loss.) In fact, children rely on their hearing to absorb and learn from their surroundings, so it's important to identify and correct hearing problems as early as possible. the better.
Children who do not receive help with a hearing loss will have language delays, difficulty reading, and trouble with social skills. In fact, children with only mild hearing impairment were 10 times more likely to be delayed in class than children with normal hearing.
Alison Grimes, audiologist and clinical assistant professor at UCLA, says a child with a hearing problem will receive personalized language training, hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other devices. other methods of treatment. Experts say the best time to treat an infant with hearing loss is before the baby is 6 months old.

2. How to recognize a child with hearing loss?

Today, most hospitals conduct newborn hearing screening before they leave the hospital by performing several newborn hearing tests, each taking as little as five years. to ten minutes. If your baby isn't tested in the hospital, ask the doctor about having your baby's hearing tested as soon as possible, within the first month after birth.
However, sometimes infant hearing loss occurs after the child has gone home. Parents and caregivers are often the first to notice when a child is not hearing well, so be aware if your child is not responding to sounds as you think, and tell your doctor right away.
Here are some characteristics of infants with normal hearing:
Newborns startle when they hear a loud sound. At about 2 months of age, babies become quiet when they hear your voice. At 4 or 5 months old, your baby will look in the direction of a loud sound. At 6 months old, babies start to imitate sounds and babble. Around 9 months, babies will move towards softer sounds. By age 1, children respond to music and say "ma-ma" and "ba-ba."

3. What causes hearing loss in babies?

Babies can be born with hearing loss or get it after birth. The cause of physical hearing loss is genetic, even if both parents have normal hearing. In other cases, a baby's hearing is damaged because the mother has a viral infection during pregnancy, such as measles, rubella, toxoplasmosis, or herpes.
Some babies are born with hearing loss due to low birth weight or premature birth, or abnormal inner ear development. In some cases, the cause of the problem cannot be determined.
After birth, a baby can lose hearing when the nerves in his or her inner ear are damaged by an injury, tumor, or infection such as chickenpox, flu, meningitis, or mononucleosis core. Medications such as chemotherapy drugs, salicylates, loop diuretics, and some intravenous antibiotics can also cause hearing loss.
Hearing loss can also be caused by fluid buildup in the middle ear - after an infection or by poor ventilation of the ear. David H. Darrow, professor of otolaryngology and pediatrics at Eastern Virginia School of Medicine in Norfolk, says this fluid can remain in the ear for weeks, even after the infection clears up.
Fluids can cause temporary hearing loss until the fluid is drained or surgically removed. (It's hard to hear through a fluid-filled ear.) Fluid in the ear rarely leads to hearing loss, but it can happen in children because fluid buildup in the ear leads to structural changes in the membranes. atrium or auditory bone.
If your child has recurrent ear infections or middle ear effusion, the doctor may recommend a hearing test. Your doctor may also recommend placing tubes in your child's eardrums so that any fluid that has accumulated behind can drain out and the ears remain open.
Earwax and foreign bodies in the ear can also cause temporary hearing loss in babies.

4. How is newborn hearing loss treated?

If your baby is born with hearing loss or due to some cause, treatment may not completely solve the problem, but today you have many other options to help your child improve hearing effectively.
Even babies can wear hearing aids, a small electronic device worn inside or behind the ear to amplify sound. Babies and young children often wear hearing aids behind their ears.
If your baby's hearing loss is classified as severe or severe, he may be indicated for a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant consists of electrodes inserted into the inner ear (cochlea) and an external device to receive and process sound. The implant replaces the inner ear by carrying auditory signals to the brain.
Implants can help many children with severe hearing loss who cannot improve their hearing with hearing aids. But even with hearing aids or implants, these children will need speech therapy for several years to be able to speak in an understandable way.
Some children with hearing loss cannot speak or hear. In these cases, it is important for children to start learning sign language as soon as possible. Finally, some families choose an integrated approach that allows the child to function as best as possible in the whole deaf community.

5. Preventing hearing loss in children

Although hearing loss is hereditary or unavoidable, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of hearing loss from other factors:
Never put anything in your baby's ear canal. Even cotton swabs can be harmful to the ears. Make sure your child is fully immunized, as some diseases such as mumps can cause hearing loss. Monitor and observe when your child has colds and ear infections. If your child shows signs of an ear infection, talk to the doctor. Avoid exposing your baby to loud noises, especially ongoing noises. Hearing loss in children can have many causes. It is important for parents to perform screening, early recognition of signs to promptly take their children to medical centers for examination, diagnosis and treatment, to avoid serious hearing loss. important.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining respiratory diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, respiratory infection, pneumonia in children, ear infections, ....With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline for support

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: babycenter.com