With today's technology and our current understanding of the hearing process we are capable of accurately identifying hearing loss even in new-born infants only minute old. The patterns that result will indicate if hearing is normal, or if a hearing loss is present. In nearly all cases of children under 2 years of age, it is necessary to have the child sedated with a mild sedative so that the test can be performed. The echo is found in all normal hearing individuals. If the echo is absent it could indicate that a hearing loss is present and further testing such as ABR and Tympanometry is indicated.
Infants hear and listen from birth.
Good hearing is essential for babies to learn to talk. If a baby has a hearing loss many important learning experiences will be missed. Parents should be alert to any signs of hearing loss. If you suspect that your baby is not hearing normally, have the babies hearing tested. Stirs, wakes or cries when someone talks or makes a noise.