Why should I have my child tested?
Three out of every 1,000 newborns are born with some degree of hearing loss. Hearing is a critical part of a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Even the presence of a mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child's ability to speak and understand language.
A child born in Idaho will likely have a newborn hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital to detect hearing loss at birth. Those who have or are planning on giving birth at home or at a birthing center should make it their priority to have their child screened within the first three weeks of life.
Through early detection it is possible to treat a child's hearing problems so that they can develop the same as their peers. The Doctors of Audiology at Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic recommend that your child's hearing gets screened early and evaluated regularly in order to empower and better your child's life.
Reasons your child might develop a hearing loss:
Was born prematurely
Had complications at birth
Infections at birth such as cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Being on a ventilator for a long time
Stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit
Having congenital diaphragmatic hernia or needing ECMO therapy
Having repeated courses of IV antibiotics and diuretics
Having a syndrome in which hearing loss often occurs
Having a close relative who had hearing loss in childhood
Had been exposed to very loud sounds or noises, even in brief durations