UPDATE: Can Birth Injuries Lead to Hearing Loss for Children?

 Posted on June 05, 2023 in Birth Injury

Originally published: September 11, 2020 -- Updated: June 5, 2023

Update: In addition to considering the potential causes of hearing loss for infants, parents will also need to understand the types of treatment that may be needed to address this issue and ensure that their child can grow and develop successfully while living a fulfilling life. The expenses related to hearing loss treatment can be significant, and parents may need to look at what forms of assistance may be available following a birth injury to ensure that they will be able to provide for their child’s needs.

For children with hearing loss, early intervention can be crucial. Ideally, a child can begin receiving services within the first six months after they are born. These services may evaluate the extent of their hearing loss and determine how to support the development of language and communication skills. By beginning treatment as early as possible, parents can provide their child and their family with the tools for ongoing success.

A child may also begin receiving medical treatment for hearing loss at an early age. In some cases, surgery may be performed to correct issues that have affected the function of the inner or outer ear or to drain fluid that has built up behind the eardrum. Medications may also be used to address infections that have affected a child’s hearing.

Technological solutions may also be used to assist with hearing. A child may begin using hearing aids at an early age, or cochlear or brain stem implants may be surgically implanted to help the child process sound. Other types of assistive technologies may also be used to help a child process language and communicate with others. Ongoing therapy may be needed as well, and a child may receive special education or tutoring when they begin attending school.

Contact Our Illinois Birth Injury Hearing Loss Lawyers

The expenses involved in providing care for a child with hearing loss can add up quickly, and they can lead to financial difficulties for a family. In these situations, parents will need to understand their options for receiving financial assistance or making use of the programs that may be available to help meet their child’s needs. At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., our Chicago birth injury attorneys can provide guidance to parents, ensuring that hearing loss or other injuries that occurred during a child’s birth will be addressed correctly. Contact us at 312-462-4200 for a free consultation.

Even when everything goes smoothly, childbirth can be a traumatic process for both mothers and infants. Unfortunately, medical issues during pregnancy or complications during labor and delivery can lead to birth injuries, and in some cases, these injuries can have a long-term or permanent impact on a child’s health and well-being. One concern that parents may have is the possibility that their child will suffer hearing loss due to a birth injury. Understanding the potential causes of hearing loss can help parents determine the best way to respond and ensure that their child receives the proper care and treatment.

Causes of Infant Hearing Loss

In the majority of cases, children experience hearing loss because of genetic causes, either due to a mutation of the child’s genes or as part of a syndrome in which the child experiences other symptoms. If either parent has one or more family members who are deaf or who have suffered genetic hearing loss, doctors should closely monitor the child during pregnancy and ensure that parents are prepared to provide the child with the proper care.

Non-genetic hearing loss is often the result of some form of trauma experienced by the child during pregnancy or birth. Issues that can cause hearing loss include:

• Infections - If a mother contracts an infectious disease such as toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), or rubella during pregnancy, this can cause problems with the development of her child’s hearing system. Infections such as group B streptococcus (GBS) or herpes may also cause hearing loss after being passed to a child during pregnancy or birth. Some infections may lead to meningitis that causes damage to the child’s nervous system and results in loss of hearing.

• Asphyxia - If the child’s supply of oxygen is cut off during labor and delivery, they can suffer serious damage to the brain. This can result in sensorineural hearing loss, or “nerve deafness,” due to damage to the inner ear.

• Head trauma - A child may suffer an injury to the head during delivery, and this may occur if the child is too large to fit safely through the birth canal, in the wrong position for vaginal delivery, or due to the improper use of forceps. Birth trauma can cause central auditory dysfunction that affects the hearing pathway between the inner ear and the brain.

• Jaundice - A child may experience high levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream if his or her liver is not functioning properly. Hospital staff should recognize the signs of jaundice after the child is delivered and ensure that the child receives the proper treatment. If it is not treated correctly, jaundice can lead to sensorineural hearing loss.

• Preterm labor - If a child has a low birth weight or is born before the pregnancy reaches full term, they are more likely to suffer injuries during birth that could lead to hearing loss.

Contact Our Chicago Infant Hearing Loss Lawyers

If your child suffers from hearing loss, he or she may need significant care throughout his or her lifetime, including surgeries or implants to restore hearing, as well as occupational therapy and special education. The costs related to this type of injury can be high, so you will want to be sure to understand your options for receiving financial assistance. At the Birth Injury Law Alliance, we will help determine the causes of your child’s hearing loss, including whether negligence by doctors or nurses played a role in the injury. To arrange a free consultation and learn more about how we can assist you in receiving financial help, contact our Cook County birth injury attorneys today by calling 312-462-4200.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/facts.html

http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/hearingloss/causes/

https://www.babyhearing.org/non-genetic-hearing-loss

 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/treatment.html