Recognizing Hearing Loss

At the moment of birth, an infant must be capable of learning of the world through the senses of hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch. Even before a baby is born, a baby can hear sounds that are made by its mother's body and even some sounds from outside if they are close or loud enough. Development of the five senses continues over the years but there are also cases where development is lost to some of the sense such as hearing.

Observe

Hearing loss can result in the long and difficult process of being able to speak. Observe your child and the time that your child takes to learn new words. Being aware of the time it takes your child to learn new words will also help in knowing the condition of his or her hearing. Your child might be experiencing hearing loss at an early stage in life if he or she shows long delays in between learning different words. This is because a child learns new words not just through reading but through hearing the words said out loud. There is a possibility that the child does not learn words quickly enough because he or she has to hear a number of times due to the loss of the sense of hearing.

You are best for the job

Of course, as parents, you are the only ones who can recognize that the child is actually experiencing this loss of hearing. You can be made aware of the problem by being attentive to the way that infants and toddlers respond to sounds and to the understanding of the language you speak. Although a baby can hear all the same sounds that you can, it may not respond as quickly as you do. For example, a loud startling sound may get you the same response of surprise. However, the baby may not respond at all to softer sounds and this is what you as a parent should take note of.

What may cause it

Hearing loss is not something that is as common as the cold. However, it will not do any harm to look out for signs of it as well. If there is a history of permanent hearing loss in your family, this should be taken under consideration as to why it may happen to your baby. Other factors that may encourage this loss include low birth weight, an infection at birth (such as toxoplasmosis), a serious injury to the head, a required blood transfusion, and even a disorder of the brain or nervous system. These are all factors that can be pointed out by doctors.

What to do

If you do find irregularities in the way your child processes information after hearing certain sounds, you may want to take him or her to the doctor. The doctor will then perform some hearing tests according to what information you will provide. This is why it is important to take note of the reactions of your child as you make your observations of his or her hearing. The doctor will be able to tell you if this condition will be temporary or permanent. Most hearing loss problems are temporary and can be treated medically. It is best that the loss is treated as early as possible so that no further hearing loss is experienced by the child.

If you are not sure about the condition that your baby is in, it is always best to consult your family doctor. With regards to hearing, get to know a local specialist or audiologist whose expertise is in the testing of hearing. Never delay as it is best to submit your child to early medical treatment if there really is a problem.