Facts about newborn hearing loss:
Hearing loss is the most frequently occurring birth defect, occurring more frequently than all metabolic disorders screened for at birth combined. Approximately 3 in 1000 babies are born with a mild hearing loss or greater. 1 in 1000 babies are born deaf, and 90% of children with hearing loss are born to normal-hearing parents. Over 50% of babies born with hearing loss have no known risk factors for hearing loss. A hearing screening can be completed in as little as 5 minutes. Even a mild hearing loss can significantly impact a child’s ability to learn speech & language. Children identified with hearing loss and receiving early intervention services prior to 6 months of age achieve significantly higher language scores than children identified after 6 months of age.
Hearing & Speech Milestones:
Newborn (Birth to 6 Months)
- Does not startle, move, cry or react in any way to unexpected loud noises.
- Does not awaken to loud noises.
- Does not freely imitate sound.
- Cannot be soothed by voice alone.
- Does not turn his/her head in the direction of your voice.
Young infant (6 months to 12 months)
- Does not point to familiar persons or objects when asked.
- Does not babble, or babbling has stopped.
- By 12 months does not understand simple phrases by listening alone, such as “wave bye-bye,” or “clap hands.”
Infant (3 months to 2 years)
- Does not accurately turn in the direction of a soft voice on the first call.
- Is not alert to environmental sounds.
- Does not respond on the first call.
- Does not respond to sounds or does not locate where the sound is coming from.
- Does not begin to imitate and use simple words for familiar people and things around the home.
- Does not sound like or use speech like other children of similar age.
- Does not listen to TV at a normal volume.
- Does not show consistent growth in the understanding and the use of words.