We want doctors, nurses, parents and other family members to be sensitive to hearing capacity and prepared to begin appropriate treatment at the earliest moment possible. The thousands of children born every year with hearing impairments should not be obligated to live in a world of silence. If you are the parent of doctor of a newborn, make the responsible decision to test and treat early for hearing impairments. Your actions will make a difference. Early detection and treatment of infant hearing disorders are the most critical factors in providing a full range of lifestyle options for the hearing impaired.
Most people born with hearing impairments have at least some capacity to hear.
This residual capacity can often be developed to an extent that permits near full participation in mainstream society. Even children born with no capacity to hear can often develop sufficient auditory sensibility through the use of cochlear implants. Research shows that a child's central auditory pathways continue to develop for approximately the first 2-3 years after birth. Auditory stimulation is required in this critical period for normal development of the auditory system. For many infants born with hearing impairments, sufficient auditory stimulation can be provided through the use of hearing aids or through surgical intervention.