For a child, hearing and speech are essential tools for learning, playing and developing social skills. So, if your child has a congenital hearing loss present at birth, it’s natural to worry about her well-being. Specialists and care teams in the Sutter Health network can help you determine if your child has hearing loss, its extent and the best course of treatment.

Congenital hearing loss can be caused by many factors, including:

• Infections during pregnancy (German measles, toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus)
• Ototoxic medication used during pregnancy
• Birth complications
• Disorder of the brain or nervous system
• Genetic syndromes, such as Ushers, Down's and Waardenburg's syndromes
• Family history of hearing loss

Infant Screening

Most hospitals perform hearing tests for babies shortly after delivery. This assures early intervention if the newborn shows any signs of hearing loss. But if your infant was not tested at birth, contact your doctor for a thorough hearing evaluation.

Observing Hearing Loss

Parents are often the first people to sense that their child has a hearing problem. It is important to recognize the signs of hearing loss in infants and toddlers as early as possible to prevent any delays in speech or language development. Observing how your child responds to sounds — whether he wakes at loud noises or responds to your voice — can help you assess whether he has trouble hearing. If you suspect a problem, do not delay in getting your child's hearing tested. It's never too early to ask.

To help you evaluate your child's hearing, we've created two hearing loss checklists:

• Baby and Toddler Hearing Checklist
• Preschool and Older Hearing Checklist

Pediatric Testing and Treatment

Hearing specialists in the Sutter Health network can conduct hearing tests and evaluations on young children and infants. These tests can assess whether sound is being conducted efficiently or if there is damage to the inner ear or nerve pathways. Doctors can also perform tests to determine if the brain is processing what your child is hearing. 

After your child is tested, a member of your care team will discuss your child's diagnosis with you, along with recommendations for appropriate treatment.

• If your child has a hearing loss, your care team will refer you to an ears, nose and throat specialist.
• Depending on the nature of the disorder, a hearing aid or other amplification device may be necessary. Your team will guide you and your child through every step of the selection, fitting, use and care of these devices.
• For a child diagnosed with severe hearing loss, Sutter Health can provide case management and referrals to appropriate resources.