International Day of the Deaf: Protecting Children’s Hearing Health
What Causes Childhood Hearing Loss?
Childhood hearing loss may be caused by genetic factors, medication-related injury, middle ear disease, or noise exposure. About 60% of deafness is related to genetics, and common genes include GJB2, SLC26A4, MT-RNR1, and GJB3.
Some children may have hearing problems even if both parents hear normally, because both parents may carry recessive mutations. Certain ototoxic drugs, especially aminoglycoside antibiotics, can also cause serious hearing injury in genetically susceptible children.
Genetic screening · Newborn hearing screening · Avoid ototoxic drugs · Prevent otitis media · Control headphone volume
Screening Timeline and Warning Signs
Newborn hearing screening usually includes an initial screen 3 to 5 days after birth. If the initial screen is not passed, or if there is family history or maternal ototoxic drug exposure, rescreening around 42 days is important.
If rescreening is not passed, diagnostic testing should be completed within 3 months, and intervention should begin within 6 months to protect the critical period of language development.
- No startle response to loud sounds
- Not awakened by loud noises
- No “mama” or “baba” babbling by around 10 months
- No meaningful words by 18 months
- High TV volume, asking “what,” or watching lips when spoken to
- Genetic screening before or during pregnancy when needed
- Avoid ototoxic drugs unless medically necessary
- Treat colds, rhinitis, and otitis media promptly
- Do not clean children’s ears blindly
- Limit headphone use and volume
Daily Care Also Protects Hearing
Parents should avoid frequent ear picking or using cotton swabs deep in the ear canal. For young children, headphone use should be limited or avoided, and older children should keep volume low and time short.
"Hearing protection is not only about passing a newborn screen. It is a long-term task throughout childhood."