Deaf Service Center

For every 1000 children that are born 1 will be born with what is classed as significant hearing loss and will have a serious affect on there education, reading and learning to speak and another one in 1500 will develop hearing loss related problems sometime during there childhood.

The term hearing loss varies is degrees and is termed either mild, moderate, severe or profound, the term “deaf” is used for those with profound hearing loss.

Factor’s Causing Deafness or Hearing Loss in Children

There are several contributing factors in a child being born deaf or with hearing loss in any degree, there are certain illnesses when contracted by the mother during early pregnancy such as rubella or more commonly known as German measles.

Certain medications and exposure to x-rays are common causes. If the mother is experiencing a difficult labour and intervention isn’t given made quickly enough then the baby can suffer from a lack of oxygen which can also cause hearing loss, also if the baby is born prematurely.

Very occasionally deafness can be inherited from the parents but this is very rare even when both parents are profoundly deaf. Most serious cases of deafness will occur after birth and are generally caused by ear infections or injury to the ear.

Signs to Look For In Your Childs Development

Most of the time parents will know that something is not right with there child and suspect a hearing problem but occasionally it might go unnoticed listed below is a guide to a Childs normal hearing development

From 0 to 4 months the baby will be startled and jump by any sudden unexpected loud noise.

4 to 6 months the baby will turn his or her head towards sounds they hear.

6 to 9 months the baby will turn there heads at sound and also responds to there name.

9 to 12 months the child will start to copy simple sounds like mama and dada.
12 to 18 months the child is capable of following simple instructions and can say simple words which gradually build up.

This is a rough guide of course as every baby develops at different levels but if your baby isn’t startled at all by unexpected loud noise or doesn’t begin to respond to sound or noise then advice should be sought from a health care professional as it is now possible to give even young children a hearing test on some level.