Screen your newborn for hearing loss
Everyday we are exposed to sound-words of a loved one; our favourite music or even basic sounds like the rain transform moments into memories. Hearing is the key to our relationships and our social activities. Despite hearing being such an integral part of our life, many of us, especially children suffering from hearing loss are detected late due to lack of awareness. Of all the people with hearing loss, the majority are either children or in the workforce. Both children and adults may experience social stigmatisation and isolation as a result of hearing loss. In order to prevent unnecessary hearing loss, developed world and some developing countries have made hearing assessment mandatory for all newborn children. Department of ENT at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka has developed its own newborn hearing screening programme. Newborn babies are screened for hearing problems in the first day of life, often as a part of the post-delivery care offered to mothers and babies whilst in the hospital. The test does not hurt your child and can in fact be performed while they are sleeping. A tiny probe is inserted into the ear and analyses the sound. It is important to note that screening tests can only look for signs in a baby if s/he is be deaf and needs further tests, it is not a diagnosis. It also does not provide information about the degree of deafness or possible causes. It is very important to be vigilant in looking for signs of deafness as even babies who are born able to hear can become deaf as they grow up due to a number of reasons. If you have any concern, you should speak to an ENT specialist. Research has shown that babies who are diagnosed as being deaf before six months old and whose parents received a good amount of information and support perform significantly better than those who are diagnosed later. Hearing aids can be fitted as young as three months old and parents can get a head start in learning sign language. In children having severe hearing loss and not responding to hearing aid, an advanced surgery, known as cochlear implant, is also available in Bangladesh. This can be done at age of as less as 2 years. A bionic implant is inserted in the inner ear, and connected wirelessly to an outside device. Child needs intensive speech therapy afterwards for proper speech development.
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