Addressing Hearing Loss in Infants

Hearing loss can affect us at any age. While it is more common in adults, and even more so in older adults, it can affect children, including infants, as well. Hearing loss can affect infants in one or in both ears and can range from anywhere to mild to profound. This condition can be difficult to recognize in children if you don’t understand some key basics, like what causes it, what the symptoms are and how it is treated.

What Causes Hearing Loss in Children?

There are many different risk factors that can lead to a higher risk of hearing loss in infants. In the case of hearing loss at birth, which is rare, it’s usually due to a genetic factor, which can be seen in a family history of hearing loss, or due to a low birth weight leading to problems in the outer or middle ear.

Other issues can develop later, such as birth defects in the ear canal or middle ear, the build-up of earwax or fluid behind the drum, injury to the eardrum, objects in the ear canal, or scars on the eardrums due to repeat ear infections. Treating some of these problems may cause the hearing loss to go away. However, in some cases, infant hearing loss may be permanent. Depending on the nature, it may grow more severe over time or may remain stable.

Signs of Hearing Loss in Infants

Until you are able to get a diagnosis with the help of an audiologist, there is no way to be certain that your infant is experiencing hearing loss. However, there are symptoms that you should keep an eye out for. In the case of newborn babies, hearing loss is likely to be noticed at the hospital when they are screened or are not startled by loud noises near them.

If your infant develops hearing loss after this screening or it begins to worsen, there are other symptoms you may notice, including:

• Lack of startle response
• Delayed or absent speech and language development
• Limited response to sounds
• Difficulty locating the source of sounds
• Lack of reaction to music or voices
• Difficulty learning to speak
• Unresponsiveness to changes in tone of voice
• Delayed social development

Treatments for Infant Hearing Loss

If your infant has been diagnosed with hearing loss or you suspect that they might have it, we recommend talking to their doctor as well as an audiologist. Audiologists can perform a variety of different hearing evaluations to determine if your baby has hearing loss. Some of these specialized tests may include:

• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test: This test measures the sounds produced by the inner ear when responding to a series of clicks or tones. If the ear is healthy, it generates emissions that can be detected by a small probe placed in the baby’s ear canal.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR) Test: ABR evaluates the electrical activity of the auditory nerve and brainstem in response to sound stimuli. Small electrodes are placed on the baby’s scalp, and the test provides information about how well the auditory nerve and brainstem are functioning.
• Behavioral audiometry test: Conducted in a soundproof room, this test relies on the baby’s behavioral responses to various sound stimuli. The audiologist observes the infant’s reactions to determine their hearing thresholds and assess their overall hearing capabilities.

If hearing loss is detected, you will learn more about the most beneficial treatment option for your infant’s needs. This could be a range of methods including hearing aids, cochlear implants, language therapy or other assistive technologies.