Of the over 3 million children that are born every year in America, 98% of them will have their hearing screened within the first few days of life. And while many pass, some don’t. What that means is that something is causing their ears to not respond the way that we expect. While it could be a permanent hearing loss, it also might be ear wax or fluid behind the eardrum. That’s where your audiologist comes in to help.
The CDC recommends that babies who fail their hospital hearing screening are checked again within 1 month of birth. If your little one fails that screening, a complete hearing evaluation should be done by a pediatric audiologist to find out if a hearing loss is actually present, and if so, the type and degree it is. At this point, you and your bundle of joy may meet with an ENT too. The ENT will check to see if their hearing loss has anything to do with an issue in the ears, nose or throat.
We know it’s a lot for you to process if your child is found to have a true hearing loss, especially since intervention is recommended by 6 months of age if so. Interventions may involve hearing aids or other devices, plus guidance to help your family map out a plan for your child’s language growth and education. But you are not alone in this! Your little one’s success in life is not just your job – it’s also their pediatrician’s, their audiologist’s, and their intervention team’s.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s hearing or the above process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Lemme Audiology.
Alexandra Jackson, Au.D.
