Hearing loss in babies

Hearing loss can affect babies. Having hearing loss means that your baby has lost some or all of their hearing in one or both ears. Hearing loss in only one ear is called unilateral hearing loss.

It may be temporary or permanent. Hearing loss can be caused by different things, for example:

• genetic causes
• infections
• nerve damage

Hearing loss is described by:

• how much hearing your baby has lost (mild, moderate, severe or profound)
• which part of the ear is affected

Severe or profound hearing loss is also called deafness (Opens in new tab).

While all babies develop differently, signs of hearing loss may include not meeting some of their developmental milestones.

Some milestones to look out for include:

• reacting to loud noises 
• noticing when you speak
• turning to where sounds are coming from 
• babbling and copying sounds 
• responding to their name by 6 to 18 months old

Other possible signs of hearing loss are when your baby:

• seems to hear some sounds but not others
• appears inattentive
• does not respond to you

Speak to your baby’s doctor or child health nurse if your baby:

• does not startle in response to loud sounds by 3 months old
• does not turn towards voices by 8 months old
• is not starting to make sounds by 4 months old
• is not babbling by 8 months old

If you think your baby might have signs of hearing loss, see your baby’s doctor or child health nurse. 

The type of hearing loss depends on which part of your ear is affected.

The different parts of the ear (Opens in new tab) are the:

• outer or external ear (ear canal and pinna)
• middle ear (eardrum, ear bones and eustachian tube)
• inner ear (cochlea and hearing nerve)

The outer and middle ear send soundwaves to the inner ear. In the inner ear, sounds are converted to messages that are sent to your brain through the auditory (hearing) nerve.

Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by different things.

Causes of conductive hearing loss

Temporary conductive hearing loss can be caused by:

• wax (Opens in new tab) blockage
• middle ear infection (otitis media)
• fluid build-up in your baby's middle ear

Ear infections are common in babies. Most ear infections will get better on their own in 2 to 3 days. After this time, you should take them to see a doctor.

Conductive hearing loss may be permanent if your baby's ear bones or ear canal are:

• damaged
• incorrectly formed

Causes of sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by:

• a problem with the development of the inner ear
• a physical injury to the head or inner ear
• damage to the ear from a disease such as meningitis (Opens in new tab)
• exposure to loud noise

Other causes of inner ear problems

Problems with the inner ear may also be linked to:

• genetics (Opens in new tab)
• an infection during pregnancy, like rubella
• problems due to premature birth

The most common non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss in babies is cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy.

Sensorineural hearing loss is often permanent.

In Australia, babies have their hearing tested soon after birth. Most newborns are tested before they leave hospital to see if they need further testing.

What is the newborn hearing screening test?

The newborn hearing screening test is a free test that measures your baby’s responses to different noises. 

During the test, your baby will be given a headset that plays noises in both their ears.

Sensors placed on their skin can check their nervous system’s response to these sounds. 

Results of the screening hearing test are either pass or refer:

• A pass result means that your baby does not show signs of hearing loss. They will usually be discharged from the screening program, unless they have other risk factors.
• A refer result means that one or both ears show signs of possible hearing loss. Your baby will have a second screening test to check whether the result was caused by a temporary blockage. If the second test also shows signs of hearing loss, your baby will be referred for a full hearing assessment.

A refer result on the newborn hearing screening test does not mean that your baby has permanent hearing loss. It just means they need more tests to check their hearing.

What happens if my baby develops hearing loss after being screened?

If you think your baby has hearing loss that was not detected in the newborn hearing screening test, take them to your doctor. They will examine your baby and may refer them to a specialist, such as:

• an audiologist — an allied health professional (Opens in new tab) who assesses hearing and provides advice, education and management for hearing problems
• a paediatrician — a doctor who specialises in the health and development of babies and children 
• an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) — a doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the ears, nose and throat

Understanding the cause of hearing loss will help your healthcare team plan the best treatment for your baby.

Hearing loss can be difficult to recognise in babies. Occasionally, hearing loss is not detected during newborn hearing screening. If you think that your baby may be having trouble hearing, speak to your doctor or child health nurse.

Treatment of hearing loss depends on its cause and severity. Detecting hearing problems early and starting the right treatment can help your baby achieve the best possible outcomes. With early diagnosis and appropriate support, many babies with hearing loss go on to develop language and communication skills well.

Hearing technology

If your child has hearing loss, you may choose to use technologies to help improve their hearing. Depending on the cause of their hearing loss, these may include:

• hearing aids (Opens in new tab) or other technology to amplify sounds or improve hearing
• a cochlear implant (Opens in new tab) for severe or profound hearing loss

Early intervention services

Services and hearing professionals are available to help your baby develop skills alongside their hearing loss as they get older. The most important thing for your baby's development is their ability to communicate with others. 

Other treatments

If your baby has an ear infection, they may be given medicines such as antibiotics (Opens in new tab). If your baby has repeated ear infections, your doctor may recommend grommets (Opens in new tab). Grommets are tubes that help the fluid drain out of their ears.

Regular check-ups

Babies and children with hearing loss need to have their development checked as they grow. This can include having regular:

• hearing tests
• eye examinations
• appointments with a paediatrician

Recognising your baby’s hearing loss early can help you understand their needs and access the support they need to connect with the world around them.

You can help prevent hearing loss by protecting your baby’s ears from infection and loud noises. 

You can also prevent hearing loss caused by some types of infection by vaccinating your child against:

• rubella (Opens in new tab)
• measles
• mumps
• meningitis (Opens in new tab)

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, make sure to wash your hands well and avoid sharing food or drinks with children to reduce the risk of CMV infection. Breastfeeding can also help protect your baby against infections.

If your baby gets an ear infection, ask your doctor how to treat it to prevent hearing loss.

Ear protection

Use ear protection for your baby’s ears, like earmuffs, when they are around loud noises like:

• concerts
• sporting events
• fireworks
• power tools

Hearing loss can affect your child’s language and speech development. With early diagnosis and support, many babies develop these skills well.

Sometimes conditions that affect the inner ear can also affect balance.

Diagnosing hearing loss early and starting the right support can reduce the chance of developmental delays. 

Learning that your baby has hearing loss can feel overwhelming. Support groups and healthcare professionals can help you understand your baby's needs, answer your questions and connect you with services and other families. 

You can read more about ear infections in children.

For more information on hearing loss:

• Online support for parents of babies who are hard of hearing can be found on the Aussie Deaf Kids (Opens in new tab) website.
• Hearing Australia (Opens in new tab) has information on hearing loss in children.
• The Victorian Government has guidance for parents of children diagnosed with hearing loss (Opens in new tab) and information on support for early childhood (Opens in new tab).
• Deaf Children Australia (Opens in new tab) can provide mentors, support groups and information to help both you and your family.
• NSW Health has a booklet on what the next steps (Opens in new tab) are if your baby is diagnosed with hearing loss.

Learn more about raising a deaf child.

Find out more about protecting your baby’s ears from loud noises (Opens in new tab).

If you live in Queensland or Northern NSW, you can contact the Healthy Hearing Family Support Service (Opens in new tab) for support.