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Speaking Deaf Babies.

Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is the inability of the brain to perceive sound. It is a hidden disability and cannot be identified easily. In the Indian context, due to lack of mandatory newborn hearing screening at most places:
 
– Usually suspected only when the child does not start to speak.
– Most people tend to wait too long: generally till the baby turns18 months to 2 years age.
– Diagnosis may be further delayed due to inactions, unconscious denials, and refusals to acknowledge the problem by family members. Excuses such as “..speech is only delayed”,”.. that relative started speaking at 3, this relative started at 4..” are pretty common
– People also tend not to reveal due to fear of abuse or ridicule, or social stigma.

Typical signs of hearing loss in children:

No reaction to loud sounds

No reaction to mother's voice, others' voices, even when spoken to from close distance

Turns head on seeing you but not if you only call out baby's name. People usually mistake it for not paying attention

Cannot make out where sound is coming from, mistaken as not paying attention

Stopped babbling or making sounds

Has not progressed to understandable speech

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Hearing loss in babies may not be present at birth. It can set in at any age. Hearing impairment is not visible externally. Parents and caregivers need to be alert.

Checklist for hearing

0 – 3 months

4 – 6 months

7 – 12 months

1 – 2 years

2 – 3 years

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Hearing loss in babies and young children can be easy to miss or confused with other developmental delays. Keen observation is crucial in catching hearing loss in this age group

Birth to 3 months

A baby with normal hearing usually wakes up when sleeping or gets startled and begins to cry when a loud sound is heard. They also tend to make cooing sounds. If a baby does not get disturbed or react when a loud sound is made – such as an object falling down on the floor, the clanging of utensils, bursting of crackers, then the baby’s hearing should be tested

3 months to 6 months

Babies with normal hearing usually recognise mother’s voice. They also react to new sounds – of a new toy, new voice. Enjoy babbling (repeating the same sounds). 

6 months to 9 months

Baby doesn’t appear to have noticed the sound and doesn’t look around on hearing the sound, for its source and the direction from which it is coming. The sound from a familiar toy doesn’t bring any movement in the baby. Babies in this age group, with normal hearing, tries to imitate sounds made by those around, generally the parents.

9 months to 18 months

Child doesn’t look at his mother when she calls child’s name. Child doesn’t respond to simple commands like ‘sit’, ‘come’ etc. A child with normal hearing speaks their first word during this period.

Signs of Hearing Loss – A CHECKLIST

Birth to 3 Months

Reacts to loud sounds

YES / NO

Calms down or smiles when spoken to

YES / NO

Recognizes your voice and calms down if crying

YES / NO

When feeding, starts or stops sucking in response to sound

YES / NO

Coos and makes pleasure sounds

YES / NO

Has a special way of crying for different needs

YES / NO

Smiles when he or she sees you

YES / NO

4 to 6 Months

Follows sounds with his or her eyes

YES / NO

Responds to changes in the tone of your voice

YES / NO

Notices toys that make sounds

YES / NO

Pays attention to music

YES / NO

Babbles in a speech-like way and uses many different sounds, including sounds that begin with p, b, and m

YES / NO

Babbles when excited or unhappy

YES / NO

Makes gurgling sounds when alone or playing with you

YES / NO

7 Months to 1 Year

Enjoys playing peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

YES / NO

Turns and looks in the direction of sounds

YES / NO

Listens when spoken to

YES / NO

Understands words for common items such as “cup,” “shoe,” or “juice”

YES / NO

Responds to requests (“Come here”)

YES / NO

Babbles using long and short groups of sounds (“tata, upup, bibibi”)

YES / NO

Babbles to get and keep attention

YES / NO

Communicates using gestures such as waving or holding up arms

YES / NO

Imitates different speech sounds

YES / NO

Has one or two words (“Hi,” “dog,” “Dada,” or “Mama”) by first birthday

YES / NO

1 to 2 Years

Knows a few parts of the body and can point to them when asked

YES / NO

Follows simple commands (“Roll the ball”) and understands simple questions (“Where’s your shoe?”)

YES / NO

Enjoys simple stories, songs, and rhymes

YES / NO

Points to pictures, when named, in books

YES / NO

Acquires new words on a regular basis

YES / NO

Uses some one- or two-word questions (“Where kitty?” or “Go bye-bye?”)

YES / NO

Puts two words together (“More cookie”)

YES / NO

Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words

YES / NO

2 to 3 Years

Has a word for almost everything

YES / NO

Uses two- or three-word phrases to talk about and ask for things

YES / NO

Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds

YES / NO

Speaks in a way that is understood by family members and friends

YES / NO

Names objects to ask for them or to direct attention to them

YES / NO

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