Advancing Early Intervention for Infant Hearing Health
Historically, infant hearing loss was often overlooked, but this neglect carried many serious consequences. Today, 1 to 2 in every 1,000 newborns have permanent hearing loss in one or both ears, rising to at least 1 in 100 for infants spending over 48 hours in intensive care. These children require immediate support, specialized care and very early intervention; ideally within the first months of life to foster healthy development.
Early identification is paramount. Undetected hearing loss disrupts a critical developmental window. Without timely access to sound, infants miss essential linguistic input, leading directly to significant delays in speech and language acquisition. This initial delay triggers a cascade of challenges - it profoundly impacts future academic achievements and creates barriers to social interaction and emotional expression, hindering overall socio-emotional development. Therefore, prompt screening and intervention are essential, not just beneficial, to safeguard a child's communication, learning and long-term well-being.
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