Four good reasons you should have your baby’s hearing tested

 In Georgia, 300 babies each year are born with hearing loss

 Hearing sounds helps a baby learn to talk and communicate. A baby’s brain continues to grow after birth. If a baby cannot hear, parts of the brain needed for good language skills may not develop. If you know that your baby has a hearing loss, there are things you can do to help your baby develop language skills. The sooner you start doing these things, the better the outcome for your baby.

Most babies do not have hearing loss, but it is important to be sure as early as possible.

• Early testing allows for early treatment, if hearing loss is detected.
• Early treatment can provide earlier sound stimulation for a baby’s brain.

It is good to have a newborn baby’s hearing checked before leaving the hospital.

 Your baby’s hearing can be tested with in a few hours after birth.

 Because of the number of babies affected with hearing loss each year, the state of Georgia is asking that all hospitals and health providers teach parents about the need to screen a new baby’s hearing.

If a hospital does not provide hearing screenings, ask your doctor or the hospital staff to refer you to a place where your baby’s hearing can be tested.

 Infant hearing screening is painless

 Most babies sleep through their hearing screening test. There are two types of hearing screening tests for babies:

(1) Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) - This tests the baby’s ability to hear soft sounds through small earphones. Baby’s brainwaves are measured to find out whether the sounds are processed normally.

(2) Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) – This test measures a baby’s responses to sounds directly, using a small microphone and a special computer.

Both tests are very safe, easy on the baby, and take only a few minutes.

 Early identification and treatment are the keys to success

 There are many reasons why your baby may not “pass” the first hearing screening. In these cases, a follow-up test must be done to find out if a baby really does have a hearing loss. The baby’s doctor or the hospital can tell you when and where the follow-up test will take place. It is very important to the baby’s development to have this follow-up test.

Babies who have hearing loss can be helped in many ways to develop their full potential. There are both private and public programs available to help a baby with hearing loss. Ask your baby’s doctor for a referral, or call Parent-To-Parent of Georgia for more information at 1-800-229-2038 or 770-451-5484.

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Speech, Language, and Hearing Skills

A child with normal hearing will:

At around two months of age:

• Startle to loud sound
• Quiet to familiar voice
• Make vowel sounds like “ohh” and “ahh”
  

At around four months of age:

• Look for sounds with eyes
• Start babbling
• Use a variety of voice sounds, such as squeals, whimpers, chuckles
  

At around six months of age:

• Turn head toward the sound
• Begin to imitate speech sounds
• Babble (“ba-ba,” “ma-ma”, “da-da”)
  

At around nine months of age:

• Imitate speech sounds of others
• Understand “no-no” or “bye-bye”
• Turn head toward soft sounds

At around twelve months of age:

• Correctly use “ma-ma” or “da-da”
• Hand over toy when asked
• Respond to singing or music
• Locate sound at all levels

*NOTE: These are only guidelines - Babies may respond to noise by startling or turning their heads toward the sound. This does not mean they have normal hearing. Most babies can hear some sound but still not hear enough to develop full speaking ability. If you were told to re-screen your baby, please do so. Timing is everything.