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ent reason for their loss of hearing. The loss of hearing since birth in family members usually indicates a genetic pattern and Dr. Shaia stated that, “Children born into those families should probably be examined for hearing loss within their first year of life.” He also indicated that during the pregnancy itself, if the mother has any serious viral infections such as pneumonia or has to be treated with antibiotics or unusual drugs of any kind, “then we have to worry about whether or not this might cause some problems with the child.”
Dr. Shaia also mentioned that if the mother is currently taking medications for other health problems like disabetes, there can be some concern for the unborn child. Low birth weight is another factor which may indicate some hearing problems in newborns. “If the child weighs three pounds or less, they are a strong suspect for hearing loss as well as other congenital problems,” said Dr. Shaia.
There are other factors about hearing loss in children which involves the parents. “If there is a blood compatibility problem between the mother and the father and a child becomes severely jaundiced at birth then the bilirubin which builds up can build up again in the brain area and cause a loss of hearing due to the damage in the pathways to the brain,” Dr. Shaia explained. High blood pressure and kidney problems during pregnancy can also result in potential hearing problems in newborns.
There are other problems after birth which can affect hearing loss and probably the most serious is meningitis. According to Dr. Shaia, “If a child has meningitis early in life it’s more of a problem because he can’t relate to you the fact that he can’t hear. If he has meningitis in the first three years of life, then there is about a 10 percent incidence of these children developing hearing loss either in one ear or both ears and it can be severe.” Head injuries are also probable causes for hearing loss, even minor injuries. But the most common cause of hearing loss in children is fluid behind the eardrum.
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