Can you hear me?

Within the first few hours to days of life, infants show they can hear and react. A newborn may startle easily and turn toward the direction a sound is coming from. Over time, this reaction grows more complex, and verbal conversations begin. But what happens when a person loses their hearing, which can occur in infancy, childhood or adulthood? Hearing loss that occurs in infancy and childhood can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language and social skills. Any kind of hearing loss can be a serious problem, but many problems are not discovered until age 2, when speech and development delays begin to show.

The three most common causes of hearing loss in adults include otitis media, problems from birth and injury or illness. Otitis media is an ear infection where fluid builds up behind the eardrum and becomes infected. If fluid stays in the tube, this temporary hearing loss can become permanent. Many childhood illnesses/injuries also can cause hearing loss, such as meningitis, measles, chickenpox, head injuries and reactions to certain medications (WebMD.com).      

All 50 states require that every infant have a hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital. If the child passes, this may be the only hearing screening he has. If you have any concerns later on about your child’s hearing, follow up with your pediatrician or family doctor. After all, the diagnostic test is pain free and quick. Many local school districts offer free hearing screening for children 2 and under as part of their parents as teachers program.

Many children will not be able to express verbally that they are suffering hearing loss. As caregivers, parents are often the first to notice there is a problem. Noticeable signs could be as simple as an infant’s not reacting to loud noises or to the parent’s voice. Regarding otitis media, a child may pull or rub on her ear, be cranky and have little energy, have a fever, ask for the TV volume to be louder, not understand directions or say “what?” or “huh?” a lot.

The best way to protect your child from hearing loss is to seek treatment for infection and avoid harmful noises—ones that are very loud but short in duration or any noise exposure that lasts an extended period of time. Most importantly, keep an open line of communication with the child’s physician.

Jessica Heine is a labor and delivery nurse. She lives with her family in Olathe.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.