Pune: Medical experts stress the importance of early hearing tests in newborns to detect potential hearing impairments. If an infant does not respond to sound, does not try to speak, or does not focus on voices, it could indicate congenital hearing loss.
Hearing loss in newborns can lead to delayed speech development, affecting their overall communication skills. However, modern treatments offer solutions to overcome this condition. ENT specialists strongly recommend early diagnosis and intervention to ensure proper speech and language development in children.
1 in 1 Lakh Newborns at Risk of Deafness
Dr. Gauri Belsare, Head of the ENT Department at Ruby Hall Clinic, explains, "Every newborn should undergo a hearing test soon after birth. Hospitals offer the ‘Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Test’ to check hearing ability. Around 1-2 babies in every 100,000 are born with hearing impairment. If diagnosed early, they can undergo a Cochlear Implant Surgery after one year, enabling them to hear and eventually develop speech."
World Hearing Day Highlights the Growing Concern
World Hearing Day is observed annually on March 3 to promote awareness about hearing health. Initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007, this global campaign emphasizes the importance of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing impairments.
As per WHO statistics, over 430 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, accounting for more than 5% of the global population. Experts warn that by 2050, the number could rise to 700 million—one in every ten individuals.