There are many things that a new born baby is screened for in order to protect the child from complications later. Of these, hearing is an important aspect that could greatly alter a way the child develops. His or her brain may function flawlessly, but there is certain stimuli created from hearing that could be detrimental to the child’s future if it’s missed. Although the child could have a productive lifestyle without one of the five senses, he or she could experience greater success earlier should a hearing problem be detected and resolved.
Early Development – Hearing is one of the most profound senses that a child uses in order to learn. It is half of our preferred method of communication as a species. It is how the child first learns to speak – by emulating sounds and mouth movements. The baby listens and learns the language and what specific words represent. While deaf children can still lead happy and productive lives, they are still at a disadvantage when it comes to processing sound vibrations in order to detect a variety of situations. Learning how to say, “momma” from sound is far easier than to teach a six month old sign language.
Early Detection for Enhanced Futures – Detecting hearing problems early can help the doctors create a plan to help the child as he or she develops. Some problems can be solved almost immediately if they are detected in time. The longer any person continues with a debilitating problem that remains unchecked, the worse existence may become. You wouldn’t drive an automobile that periodically created a banging noise from the engine. Eventually, complete failure could result if the underlying problem isn’t addressed. The same is true for the human body, especially if it is a problem that can be fixed soon after birth.
Proactive Treatment – Nowadays there are many helpful treatments for children born with hearing disabilities. From surgery to simply wearing hearing aids, it is best to start a child off early so that they can reap the long term benefits of learning how to hear. Even if hearing in some form isn’t an option it is still important to be aware that the problem exists and be able to work with your child in ways they can understand.
It’s Not Always the Parent’s Fault – There are many ways you can alter the development of a child in the womb. The most important thing to remember is that defects within the child’s body are not always the fault of the biological parents. It’s true that some genes can be passed down that can have lasting effects, but not all can be attributed to heredity. A vast array of circumstances can easily alter the genetic makeup of a zygote during its developmental stages. A loss of hearing doesn’t necessarily mean you did anything wrong while the child was within the womb. Parents that took every precaution imaginable have had children with physical defects. It’s a sensitive process and you shouldn’t beat yourself up if there is something wrong with your newborn.
Screening of any kind is always a good idea in order to prepare for future needs and developments. With today’s ever advancing technology, many problems can be solved now as opposed to thirty years ago. Knowing that there is a problem is the first step into providing solutions for future issues should they occur.
Ken Myers is a father, husband, and entrepreneur. He has combined his passion for helping families find in-home care with his experience to build a business. Learn more about him by visiting @KenneyMyers on Twitter.
