HHS HealthBeat (April 8, 2010)

What babies hear

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Of every 1,000 births in the United States, two or three babies have hearing loss. Some of the reasons are genetic – having to do with how the ear works. In other cases, the reason isn’t known. But in many cases, it’s the result of infections. And the infections often can be treated, if someone realizes the baby is having hearing problems.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Marcus Gaffney says hospitals screen newborns, but parents also can watch their babies for signs of hearing problems.

"If the parents have any concern that the child may not be hearing correctly – maybe they don’t respond to them the way they thought, they don’t seem to be hearing their toys, things like that – they should definitely speak to their pediatrician." (10 seconds)

Gaffney’s study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 21, 2011