This young infant, however, can’t hear the melodic sounds or the soothing sounds of his mother’s pacifying voice as she approaches the crib.

He is one of three out of 1,000 Arkansas newborns who will come into the world with a significant hearing loss, according to information from the Arkansas Department of Health.

Because significant hearing loss is one of the most common major abnormalities present at birth, the ADH has taken steps to help educate Arkansans on the importance of early screening, detection and interventions in newborns.

As part of the Healthy Hearing program, ADH is working to ensure that all newborns are screened before leaving the hospital and receive follow-up testing within one month if they fail the initial screening.

Millie Sanford, audiologist and Healthy Hearing program coordinator, said it is important to work with parents to confirm hearing loss by diagnostic audiologic testing prior to age 3 months and to ensure early intervention services have begun before age 6 months.

This is especially important because outward signs of hearing loss in newborns are rare.

“If left untested, many infants with hearing loss will remain undetected — sometimes until 3 years of age,” said Sanford. “At this time, parents may first notice their child having difficulty with speech and language development, which can later affect success in school and in life.”

Sanford added that the risk for longterm hearing loss increases significantly the longer infants go without treatment.

Before newborn hearing screenings, the average age to identify children with congenital hearing loss was 21&Mac218;2 to 3 years, according to ADH.

Without early identification and intervention, children with hearing loss may have delays in language, awareness and social skills. And children with undetected mild hearing loss or hearing loss in only one ear are 10 times more likely to be held back at least one grade in school.

Testing a newborn’s hearing only takes a few minutes and can be done just hours after birth, even while the infant is sleeping.

Through an otoacoustic emissions screening or an auditory brainstem response, the two screening methods used in the hospital, a soft sound is presented to the ear by an earphone made especially for babies, according to information from ADH. The machine automatically measures the baby’s response to that sound.

“The screening process is fast and painless,” said Sanford. “In fact, most babies are usually asleep when the test is administered and never awaken.”

Loralee Hamman, a unit assistant in the nursery at Sparks Regional Medical Center, said the infants usually are tested just before they are released to go home.

“Usually, we don’t test them on their first day of birth,” said Hamman, who administers the tests. “The healthy babies go home at 24 hours or shortly thereafter. We do it as close to when they leave as possible. Their ears are cleared out a little better.”

Hamman said the OAE test usually is administered first, as it is “less involved” than the ABR. If an infant fails the OAE screening, the ABR then is administered.

Occasionally, according to Hamman, an infant won’t pass either of the hospital hearing screenings.

That’s exactly where Bill and Audra Cole of Stigler found themselves two years ago after their son Blaine was born.

After he failed the initial hearing screening at Sparks Regional Medical Center in 2002, Blaine then underwent a follow-up screening and referral to an audiologist.

Audra Cole said her son was completely deaf in his left ear and only had 30 percent hearing in his right ear, something that would not have been detected had they not had the testing.

“You just feel helpless,” said Cole. “There was nothing I could do.”

At 9 months, it was discovered that Blaine’s hearing deficit was caused by fluid in the ears. Cole said tubes were inserted and the fluid was drained.

“He’s 100 percent now; he hears fine,” said Cole, adding that Blaine was diagnosed with delayed hearing.

Blaine still has some problems distinguishing different sounds and sees a speech therapist on a regular basis, Cole said.
Like Blaine, infants diagnosed with hearing loss should receive further testing.

Hamman said those newborns not passing the screening are rechecked in two weeks.

“If they don’t pass the second time, we refer them to the health department, and they set them up with an audiologist,” Hamman said.

Through the Healthy Hearing program, a letter also will be sent to the parents and a notice to the family’s primary-care physician advising him of the need to retest.

“Rescreening before 3 months of age is critical,” said Sanford. “Should the child be experiencing hearing loss, there are many treatment options available when started before 6 months of age.”

Appropriate early intervention services can help improve hearing loss in babies. Those intervention devices could include assistive devices, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and more.

A pediatrician or audiologist can help determine the best device and strategy for dealing with infant hearing loss.

For information about the Healthy Hearing program, call (800) 235-0002

By Pam Cloud