Three million American children under the age of 18 years have varying degrees of hearing loss. You, the parents and grandparents, are usually the first to discover hearing loss in your babies, because you spend the most time with them. If, at any time, you suspect your baby has a hearing loss, discuss it with your doctor. Your baby's hearing can be professionally tested at any age. Computerized hearing tests make it possible to screen newborns.
Some babies have more than an average chance of having hearing loss than others.
If you checked any items on this list, your child should have a hearing test as soon as possible. All children should have their hearing tested before they start school. This could reveal mild hearing losses that the parent or child cannot detect. Loss or hearing in one ear may also be determined in this way. Such a loss, although not obvious, may affect speech and language.