Download is my baby`s hearing normal?

IS MY BABY'S HEARING NORMAL?
If you think your baby has a hearing loss, you might be right. Three million
Americans under the age of 18 have varying degrees of hearing impairment. If you
suspect a problem, the following indicators will assist in helping you make a
determination.
Read each item carefully to see if any of these factors apply to your family, you or
your child. If you can answer yes to one or more, your child may have a higher than
average chance of a hearing loss.
Select "Yes" or "No" for each question. Select the "Print" option to make a copy of
this survey.
INDICATORS FOR HEARING LOSS
Your family:
Has one or more individuals with permanent or progressive hearing loss that
was present or developed early in life
Yes
No
During pregnancy you:
Had German measles, a viral infection or flu
Yes
No
Drank alcoholic beverages
Yes
No
Your newborn (birth to 28 days of age):
Weighed less than 3.5 pounds at birth
Yes
No
Has an unusual appearance of the face or ears
Yes
No
Was jaundiced (yellow skin) at birth and had an exchange blood transfusion
Yes
No
Was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for more than five days
Yes
No
Received an antibiotic medication given through a needle in a vein
Yes
No
Had meningitis
Yes
No
Your infant (29 days to age two years):
Received an antibiotic medication given through a needle in a vein
Yes
No
Had meningitis
Yes
No
Has a neurological disorder
Yes
No
Had a serious injury with a fracture of the skull with or without bleeding
from the ear
Yes
No
Has recurring ear infections with fluid in ears for more than tree months
Yes
No
RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Your newborn (birth to 6 months of age):
Does not startle, move, cry, or react in any way to unexpected loud noises
Yes
No
Does not awaken to loud noises
Yes
No
Does not freely imitate sound
Yes
No
Cannot be soothed by voice alone
Yes
No
Does not turn his/her head in the direction of a voice
Yes
No
Your young infant (6 through 12 months):
Does not point to familiar persons or objects when asked
Yes
No
Does not babble or babbling has stopped
Yes
No
By 12 months is not understanding simple phrases such as ("wave bye-bye",
"clap hands" by listening alone
Yes
No
Your infant (13 months through two years):
Does not accurately turn in the direction of a soft voice on the first call
Yes
No
Is not alert to environmental sounds
Yes
No
Does not respond to sound or does not locate where sound is coming from
Yes
No
Does not begin to imitate and use simple words for familiar people and things
around the home
Yes
No
Does not sound like or use speech like other children of similar age
Yes
No
Does not listen to TV at normal volume
Yes
No
Does not show consistent growth in the understanding and the use of words
to communicate
Yes
No
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
If your child has indicated one or more of the above behaviors, you should take him
or her for an ear examination and a hearing test and then discuss the findings with
your baby's pediatrician. Screening can be done at any age, even as early as just
after birth. Computerized hearing tests make it possible to screen newborns.
All children should routinely have their hearing tested before they start school. mild
hearing difficulties and loss of hearing in one ear may be determined in this way.
Such deficits, although not obvious, may negatively affect speech and language.
If you did not check any of these factors but you suspect your child is not hearing
normally, even if your child's doctor is not concerned, have your child's hearing
tested by an audiologist and when appropriate, have his or her speech evaluated by
a speech and language pathologist.
If it is determined that no hearing loss exists, the test will not have hurt the child.
However, if a hearing loss is detected, early intervention may significantly facilitate
speech and language development.
If you suspect your child who is a newborn- 3 years of age has a hearing loss or need
help with this process, please contact Early Childhood Intervention Services.
If you live in Amarillo, contact 358-8974.
If you live outside of Amarillo, contact 677-5220
If your child is 3 years to 22 years old, contact Dr. Cynthia Sturkie 326-1338.
This information is provided as a public service from the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-head and Neck Surgery, Inc., One Prince Street, Alexandria VA
232314-3357
Detection & Screening
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