Screening for Infant Hearing Problems

Infants who suffer from congenital or acquired hearing loss suffer a lifetime of speech and language problems, which leads to poor educational performance and related emotional problems. Now researchers have developed an algorithm to assist pediatricians decide on a course of treatment when a hearing screening indicates hearing loss in children from infants to teenagers up to 18 years of age.

Children diagnosed with hearing loss can suffer from coexisting conditions. Therefore confirmed abnormal hearing test results will require ongoing evaluation and intervention by a team of specialists comprising of an audiologist, otolaryngologist, speech-language pathologists and teachers. These children who are diagnosed will have to undergo continued therapy in order to maintain normalcy and avoid emotional and other issues. Children with other conditions should also be continuously monitored for developmental and behavioral disorders and referred for additional evaluation when necessary.