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Yet babies cannot tell us if they have hearing problems.

Each year, approximately 3 in 1,000 babies are born with a hearing loss. Babies who cannot hear will have problems learning to talk. That is why all birthing hospitals in Michigan test babies' hearing before they leave the hospital. More than half the babies born with hearing problems have no family history of hearing loss. It is important to identify hearing problems as early as possible so that your baby has the best chance to develop normally.

Your baby's hearing can be tested at any age:

There are two types of newborn hearing screening tests. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) are measured with a tiny microphone and sent to a specially designed computer to determine your baby's hearing. Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR) measures the baby's ability to hear soft sounds through tiny earphones. Your infant's brainwaves are measured to determine if sounds are heard normally. These tests are safe and fast. Most infants sleep during testing.

It is important to have your baby's hearing checked:

Not all babies pass an initial hearing screening.  Once in a while, a baby may even be discharged from the hospital before a hearing screening can be completed. When this happens, a follow-up hearing screening is recommended. It is important that you follow through with the recommendations of the hearing screening. Early identification is the goal of universal newborn hearing screening programs. If a hearing loss is found, early intervention for your child can start right away.  

How often should your baby's hearing be tested?

Even if a baby passes the newborn hearing test, hearing can change.  Known risk factors for hearing loss should be referred for a diagnostic hearing evaluation at least by the age of 12-18 months. Consult your audiologist or physician if you ever have concerns about your child's speech, language or hearing.

Children's Hearing Services Assistance provided by:

The Gary Sisters Foundation

Greater Kalamazoo United Way

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan

and Individual Donors

Average Speech, Language and Hearing Developmental Milestones

Two Months of Age

Startles at loud sounds

Quiets to familiar voice

Makes vowel sounds like "ohh", "ahh"

Four Months of Age

Starts to babble

Looks for sounds with eyes

Uses several voice sounds, such as squeals, whimpers and chuckles

Six Months of Age

Turns head toward sound

Begins to imitate speech sounds

Babbles ("ba-ba", "ma-ma", "ga-ga")

Nine Months of Age

Understands "no-no", "bye-bye"

Turns head toward soft sounds

Imitates speech sounds of other