Deafness in childhood: 1. Diagnosis and treatment of deaf babies and children.

Recent technological advances make it possible to detect hearing impairments in very young babies. Babies as young as a few weeks old can now be helped with hearing aids and early language therapy. The earlier the diagnosis and start of treatment, the better the later performance in speech. Nurses and midwives, together with the parents, are often the first to suspect a baby has a hearing loss. Bear in mind the risk factors--low birth weight, neonatal jaundice, family history of deafness etc-and if in doubt, always refer. There are different degrees of hearing loss and it is possible to be misled into thinking a child with partial hearing can hear normally. Again, if in doubt, refer. Hearing aids are essential for almost all children with sensori-neural hearing loss and can also be helpful for moderate conductive hearing loss. Remember that while some parents are the first to suspect deafness and seek treatment, others may deny their suspicions and even refuse to accept a diagnosis of hearing loss. They want to be able to believe that their child is normal.