Birth - 4 months

• newborn doesn't get starttled by loud sounds

• the baby stops responding to your voice

4 - 9 months

• baby doesnt get excited when spoken to or when toys make noises

• stops turning their head to familiar sounds

• stops making babbling noises

• doesn't understand hand motions like a "bye bye" wave

9 - 15 months

• still isn't babbling

• baby doesn't use voice to get others attention

• the baby doesn't respond to his or her name.

15 - 24 months

• child doesn't use simple words

• child can't name common objects

• child doesn't listen with intrest to songs

• child can't follow basic commands

• A genetic cause: About 1 out of 2 cases of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes.

• About 1 out of 3 babies with genetic hearing loss have a “syndrome.” This means they have other conditions in addition to the hearing loss, such as Down syndrome or Usher syndrome.

• 1 out of 4 cases of hearing loss in babies is due to maternal infections during pregnancy, complications after birth, and head trauma.

• For about 1 out of 4 babies born with hearing loss, the cause is unknown.

Hearing Aids

• There are many pediatric hearing aids, including high-powered aids for children with profound hearing loss that offer high-quality hearing assistance.

• Many solutions for children include special coverings and other accessories to ensure that young children don't remove or misplace their hearing aids.

• There are many different kinds, including behind-the-ear hearing aids or those that are almost entirely in the ear canal and very discreet.

Cochlear implants

• Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that directly stimulate the auditory nerve in the inner ear with electrical stimulation.

• Cochlear implants also have an external device

• Cochlear implants work for infants and children who cannot benefit from hearing aids.

Bone-anchored hearing systems

• Children who benefit from bone-anchored hearing systems are those who have severe outer or middle ear malformations, such as microtia and atresia, and those with single-sided deafness.

Speech therapy

• For children with hearing loss that has affected their speech, he or she might need speech-language therapy after getting hearing aids or a cochlear implant to help him or her catch up on speech delays.

• Children with auditory processing disorder also can receive therapy to strengthen the way your children understands and uses language.

“Causes of Hearing Loss in Children.” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, ASHA, www.asha.org/public/hearing/causes-of-hearing-loss-in-children/.

“Hearing Loss and Your Baby.” Home, www.marchofdimes.org/complications/hearing-loss-and-your-baby.aspx.

“Hearing Loss: Boston Children's Hospital.” Boston Childrens Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/h/hearing-loss.

Paludetti, G, et al. “Infant Hearing Loss: from Diagnosis to Therapy Official Report of XXI Conference of Italian Society of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.” Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica : Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana Di Otorinolaringologia e Chirurgia Cervico-Facciale, Pacini Editore SpA, Dec. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3552543/.