From the time a baby is born, most mothers and fathers speak baby talk to it. Gurgling noises and playful sounds are all part of the parent-baby bonding.
But what if your baby cannot hear? Hearing loss affects between three and six children per 1 000 and if a child cannot hear, it will affect the development of language.
Durban audiologist Zandile Mnyoni says the earlier hearing loss is detected in a baby, the better the outcome. Hearing can be tested even in newborns. It is painless and is done while the baby is sleeping.
"Parents should be aware of signs that could indicate there is a problem with the baby's hearing," she says.
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A baby should respond to sound from an early age, says Mnyoni. From birth to three months, there should be a startle reflex - if a loud noise is made the baby should react.
"From three to six months, the baby has head control and should look towards the source of the sound.
"A young baby should be making gurgling sounds. At six months he should be making simple sounds and blowing raspberries. At 10 months he should be babbling."
If he is not, parents should have his hearing checked by a professional. Mothers should ask a nurse to check the baby's hearing when having immunisations done.
In older children, there are more noticeable signs: being unaware of someone when they are out of view, watching the face of the speaker intently, a startled or surprised look when they realise they are being spoken to, increasing the volume of the TV to unreasonably loud levels, frequently asking for things to be repeated, turning one side of the head towards the speaker, talking too loudly, softly or slowly and poor progress at school.
"If a hearing problem is detected early, the prognosis is much better. Sometimes it is something that can be corrected with medication," says Mnyoni.
"Sometimes surgery is needed, or if a hearing aid is fitted the child can often progress through the normal developmental stages in his or her speech.
"The main thing is to start treatment early so the child's development can progress."
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This article was originally published on page 13 of Daily News on September 03, 2008
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