Common Concerns/FAQs
Below are common concerns or frequently asked questions by parents. Please visit the Ask the Expert section as well for more information and answers.
I’m worried that my child doesn’t hear well. What should I do?
A specialist in the area of hearing has diagnosed a hearing problem for my child. What do I do now?
What caused my child’s sensorineural hearing loss?
How will my child learn to communicate?
How do I make a decision about which method to use?
Will a hearing aid help my child?
Will a cochlear implant help my child?
How do I secure special services for my child in my home community?
Does my child hear?
Infants hear and listen from the moment of birth. Your baby should quickly learn to recognize and respond to your voice. Good hearing is essential for your baby to learn to talk. Learn about what sounds a baby should be responding to during the first year of life:
Birth to three months...
Startles, or jumps when there is a sudden loud sound
Stirs, wakes up or cries when someone talks or makes a noise
Recognizes your voice and quiets when you speak
Three to six months...
Turns eyes towards interesting sound
Appears to listen
Awakes easily to sounds
Six to twelve months...
Turns head toward soft sounds
Understands "no" and "bye-bye"
Twelve months...
Says first words such as "Da-Da," "Ma-Ma," or "Bye-Bye"
Download a complete version of "Can My Baby Hear?" (pdf)
I'm worried that my child doesn't hear well. What should I do?
Parents are usually the first to notice that their baby does not appear to be responding to sound. Your baby should be tested right away! YES! YOUR CHILD CAN BE TESTED!!! No child is too young to test! Even newborns can be tested! Contact an audiologist, a person specifically trained to accurately test hearing. DO NOT DELAY!
If you would like to schedule a free hearing test for your baby at John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles or Long Beach, California, call 213-748-5481 or request an appointment online.
If you want more information about how to contact an audiologist in your area, call the American Academy of Audiology at 703-610-9022 or visit their website: http://www.audiology.org. Do persist and ask questions! You know your baby best!
A specialist in the area of hearing has diagnosed a hearing problem for my child. What do I do now?
There are different kinds of hearing problems. If your child’s medical or audiological professional indicated that your child’s hearing problem was in the MIDDLE EAR, such as an ear infection, you may want to read our article on Conductive Hearing Loss.
If your child's medical or audiological professional has indicated that your child's hearing problem was in the INNER EAR or was SENSORINEURAL or was NERVE RELATED, you may enroll in our FREE Distance Education Course for parents. There are many terms that may be new to you. Obtain a glossary of terms from this web site.
What caused my child’s sensorineural hearing loss?
In some cases, the cause (etiology) of deafness is easy to determine.
Heredity, high fevers, syndromes, illnesses such as meningitis, drugs which can cause hearing loss (ototoxic drugs) and complications during pregnancy or childbirth are some common causes of deafness.
In many other cases, the cause is more difficult to determine. There might be several factors that contributed to the hearing loss. Perhaps there is no apparent reason for deafness. In such cases, the etiology is listed as unknown.
How will my child learn to communicate?
There are many different methods of communication available to help your child learn to communicate. All of these methods will include you, the parents, as well as other family members. No matter which method of communication you choose, you will be learning some new skills. It will take some time and energy for you to learn them. The earlier your child learns to communicate, the easier it will be for him and for you! Deaf or hard of hearing children who learn to communicate at an early age and who are included in family interactions have a good chance for success, both academically and personally.
Learn all you can about all methods. This will help you decide which one is best for your family! No one method is right for every child. Learn about some of the different methods of communication here.
How do I make a decision about which method to use?
The dilemma of making decisions while trying to sort out conflicting information can be frustrating. During such a difficult time, it may help you to keep two things in mind.
First, it’s important to make a decision, rather than no decision at all. Hearing impaired children need early language and communication intervention in order to succeed in life. In making the choice for a method of communication, you must consider the amount of your child’s loss, the communication approaches available in your area, what suits your child, what you and your family can learn, and many other factors. If you are faced with these decisions, ask as many questions as you need to understand each of these factors. Visit programs and talk with other parents and deaf people. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each possible approach for your child and your family. It’s extremely important to make a choice, maintain interaction, and provide your child clear and consistent language input.
Second, no decision is irreversible. You may feel some consolation from knowing that you can review decisions about communication methods and educational programs each year. These decisions can be changed, as necessary, to provide your child with the best chance for success.
Would you like to read more on this subject? We recommend Choices In Deafness: A Parents’ Guide to Communication Options, ed. Sue Schwartz, Ph.D. It is published by Woodbine House, Inc., 6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817. 800-843-7323. Your local bookstore or library may be able to order a copy for you.
Will a hearing aid help my child?
Most children with a sensorineural hearing loss are fitted with hearing aids right away. Only through ongoing and consistent testing can your child’s audiologist help you find the best aids and the correct setting for your child’s loss. Hearing aids do not cure a hearing loss. In most cases, children with hearing losses can learn to detect and discriminate the sounds of spoken language through hearing aids. This will help your child learn to communicate through speech and be aware of the sounds around him. If hearing aids have been recommended for your child, it is important that the aids are worn on a full-time basis, as soon as possible!
Will a cochlear implant help my child?
For the small group of deaf children who do not receive enough benefit from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may be recommended. You will need to work closely with your child's audiologist and teachers to find out whether or not your child is a candidate for this procedure.
How do I secure special services for my child in my home community?
All children with special needs, who live in the United States, are eligible for a FREE, appropriate, public education, from day of diagnosis. Your child may begin receiving assistance from your local education agencies, even as an infant. No child is too young to receive needed services. Contact your local public school district right away to ask about their programs and services to help you and your child.
If you would like to learn more about schools in the United States and Canada that help deaf children learn to talk, contact the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf; 3417 Volta Pl. NW; Washington, DC 20007, (202) 337-8314 and visit: www.agbell.org or www.oraldeafed.org