What Are the Causes of Newborn Hearing Loss?

While most babies are born with normal hearing, there are some who do have a hearing loss at birth, or develop one early in childhood. Risk factors include: Premature birth or other complications, family history of hearing loss, frequent or chronic ear infections, Infections such as meningitis or cytomegalovirus, exposure to very loud noises.

Why should newborn hearing loss be treated as soon as possible?

The earlier you catch your child’s hearing loss, the better. Babies rely on their hearing right from the start in order to develop speech and language skills. Left untreated, a hearing loss can lead to delays in language development and social coping skills. If there is a problem, early detection can prevent many of these issues, and put your child on the proper track for learning.

What are the symptoms of newborn hearing loss?

Newborn hearing loss sometimes develops shortly after birth. Even if your child passes the initial hearing screening, these signs and symptoms may indicate a hearing impairment: Failure to startle when exposed to a sudden, loud noise, no recognition or response to your voice, limited, poor, or nonexistent speech, inattentiveness, difficulty learning.

Newborn Hearing Screening | Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic

EHDDI – Early Hearing Loss Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention Program

A young baby held by an adult in a doctor's office

Hearing loss is the most common birth defect in children, affecting approximately three in 1,000 births. With this staggering number in mind, the Washington State Department of Health teamed up with Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to create a voluntary program to screen for newborn hearing loss in 2000. The program, Early Hearing Loss Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention Program, otherwise known as EHDDI, helps to diagnose, track, and treat children prior to their critical communication growth years.

At Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic we are proud to work with the EHDDI program to track infants that need hearing screenings along with follow up diagnostic services. Please take a look around to learn more about EHDDI testing and the importance of early pediatric detection, diagnosis and intervention.

Why it is Important to Diagnosis Hearing Loss at an Early Age

Hearing loss, when left undetected, can negatively impact academic achievements, social and emotional development, along with speech and language acquisition. Through early detection and intervention, a child won’t be left behind.

What Are the Risk Factors?

We have compiled a list of common risk factors for hearing loss. Please contact your physician or one of our clinics if you have any concerns about your child.

A congenital infection
Bacterial meningitis
Chronic middle ear problems
Conditions/Syndromes associated with hearing loss
Craniofacial anomalies
Exposure to ototoxic medications
Extended stay in NICU – more than 48 hours
Family history of hearing loss
Parent or caregiver concern about hearing, speech, language, or development
Infections during pregnancy such as CMV, herpes, German measles, syphilis and toxoplasmosis
Low birth weight – less than 1500 grams
Mechanical ventilation for more than 5 days
Neurologic diseases such as Hunter syndrome, Freidrich’s ataxia, Charco-Marie-Tooth syndrome
Problems at birth including jaundice or breathing problems
Severe hyperbillirubinemia requiring exchange transfusions
Trauma to the head

What Does the EHDDI Program Consist of?

A baby held by an adult in an audiology office

The EHDDI Program was created with one goal in mind, to screen ALL newborns in Washington State for hearing loss. Over the years the mission of the program has grown and now extends to achieving diagnostic audiological evaluations for children under 3 months of age, and if necessary enrolling children into early intervention services by six months of age.

More information on the Washington State EHDDI Program can be found on these websites:

Newborn Hearing Screening

Washington State Department of Health