Your newborn child may have some degree of hearing loss if he or she:

• does not startle, move, cry or react in any way to unexpected loud noises
• does not awaken to loud noises
• does not turn his/her head in the direction of your voice
• does not freely imitate sound

Hearing loss can also occur later in childhood after a newborn leaves the hospital. In these cases, parents, grandparents, and other caregivers are often the first to notice that something may be wrong with a young child’s hearing.

Even if your child’s hearing was tested as a newborn, you should continue to watch for signs of hearing loss including:

• not reacting in any way to unexpected loud noises
• not being awakened by loud noises
• not turning his/her head in the direction of your voice
• not being able to follow or understand directions
• poor language development
• speaking loudly or not using age-appropriate language skills

If your child exhibits any of these signs, report them to your doctor.