Here are some signs to look for, courtesy of the Calgary Health Region Education Services in Canada:
- a loud sound doesn't wake the baby
- a new sound doesn't stop the baby from crying
- the baby doesn't turn toward you or make eye contact when you speak to him
- he doesn't make cooing sounds after 3 months
- he doesn't babble and make sounds like "baba" after 9 months.
If you notice any of these signs or are unsure if your baby has a hearing problem, contact your paediatrician. Deafness can affect development of speech and language skills and impair social and emotional growth.
- (HealthDayNews, updated December 2008)
Do you have a hearing-impaired child? Then you're invited to join the support group of the Carel du Toit Centre in the Western Cape. Meetings take place on Tuesday mornings at 09:00. For more information, call (021) 938 6565.