Although we can often plan how things will be during pregnancy, there are cases where no one can control or even predict what will happen. One of these, in particular, is when a baby is born with some type of disability, such as hearing loss in babies.

Regardless of the cause, it’s important to know how to proceed in situations like this, since most people have never gone through it and don’t know what to do. Some people are born with certain disabilities and, even though it may be difficult to deal with, you need to learn how — even more so when it’s your child.

First Signs

One of the most difficult things to detect is when your baby is born with hearing loss. Of course, there are exams and tests you can perform yourself to see whether the baby has this kind of issue, but ideally, you should always have a doctor’s follow-up to tell you if there is actually a problem, its severity, and how to proceed in this situation.

How to Know if the Baby Has Hearing Loss?

Usually, a baby’s hearing loss is first detected by the mother, for an obvious reason — she spends the most time with her child, so she is also the one most likely to notice if something is wrong with any of the child’s senses.

Newborn Hearing Test

Since 2010, a law requires maternity hospitals to perform the “newborn hearing test”, which is nothing more than a screening that indicates if the baby has a problem in the auditory system.

The test should be performed in the first days of the child’s life so that any problem can be addressed and possibly reversed if detected early enough. Failing the test does not mean the baby has hearing loss, but it means the mother needs to be attentive or see an otolaryngologist for a more precise assessment of the child.

But besides the newborn hearing test, it’s also important to observe the child’s behavior to notice if there’s anything strange or unusual. From 3 or 4 months of age, for example, a baby will usually start to smile when hearing their parents’ voices.

If they don’t, this could be a sign of a hearing problem. Also, around this age, the child usually starts moving their head when they hear their own name, which is another thing to watch out for.

It’s important to remember that these at-home tests serve to raise suspicions but do not provide an accurate diagnosis. So if you notice your baby isn’t responding to auditory stimuli, take them to the doctor as soon as possible for a more thorough evaluation.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

There’s no single cause for children born with hearing loss. In Brazil, the most common cause is infections during pregnancy, especially if left untreated. Diseases and common newborn problems can also result in hearing impairments. That’s why it’s so important to keep vaccinations up to date. There are other causes as well, such as:

Each of these causes can lead to different degrees of hearing loss, which also require different types of treatment.

Treatment for Babies with Hearing Loss

The first thing that needs to be determined is the degree of hearing loss in the child. The type of treatment required for each degree can vary, so it’s important to have medical follow-up right from the start. Degrees of hearing loss include:

  • Mild Hearing Loss
  • Moderate Hearing Loss
  • Severe Hearing Loss
  • Profound Hearing Loss

Knowing this, you can start thinking about what type of treatment the baby will need. For cases ranging from mild to severe, using a hearing aid can significantly improve the child’s ability to perceive sound.

Alternative Communication Options

For cases of profound hearing loss, it is most recommended that the child start learning alternative ways to communicate as soon as possible. Having a speech therapist involved is essential in these cases, as they are the healthcare professional who can help the child adapt to the world.

Developing the ability to say a few words, learning to lip-read, and of course, learning sign language (Libras), will be very important in the child’s life. After all, children with hearing loss can communicate with the world and lead absolutely normal lives.

The Importance of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are indispensable for various types of hearing loss. To have one fitted, a surgical procedure called cochlear implantation is required; this is popularly known as a bionic ear.

This device can substitute for some of the cells that stimulate the auditory nerve and recreates sounds for the person using it. Considered one of the greatest advances in medicine for people with hearing loss, this device definitely helps to improve the quality of life for those who have this type of impairment at any level.

When to Fit a Hearing Aid

It is recommended that this surgery be done when babies are between 1 and 2 years old. This is because the child’s body is already prepared to receive the device at this age, and the earlier it is implanted, the easier it will be for the child’s communication to develop. Generally, a child with this device can lead a healthy and normal life like others, always with some special care, of course.

Is It Possible to Prevent Hearing Loss?

It’s difficult to talk about preventing any kind of disability. Of course, we can list a few actions. Good medical follow-up during pregnancy, for example, can prevent any type of infection and, therefore, help to prevent hearing loss in children.

Having all the recommended tests done as soon as the baby is born, and keeping vaccines up to date, are other ways to prevent problems and reduce the risk of your child having an issue.

However, there are cases where the issue is genetic or caused by improper development of cells, in which case there is no way to prevent it. In these cases, good medical support is necessary so parents know what to do.

A child born deaf can live a completely normal and healthy life, but this depends a lot on the parents’ efforts. Of course, both the child and parents will face difficulties and will need to work harder than usual to ensure the child’s healthy growth, but this doesn’t mean the child’s social or intellectual development must be compromised.

Unfortunately, certain disabilities are part of the world we live in, and while we don’t have a way to reverse this yet, the best thing to do is to accept it and learn how to live with it, identifying the best ways to adapt and thrive.

See Also: Braille – Words at Your Fingertips
Photo: Canon EOS 1100d