Ms. Kibby received her master's degree in Audiology with honors from California State University, Long Beach, and is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Florida. She completed her clinical fellowship and spent seven years at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, where she trained for her pediatric specialty.
Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Dr. Bredenkamp recieved his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He then went on to serve a six year residency at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine in the department of Surgery.
Most permanent hearing loss is due to damage/malfunction of the nerve that transmits sound from the inner ear to the brain (auditory nerve). For those infants in whom a cause is determined, approximately
half have a genetic condition and the remaining half have an acquired condition to explain their hearing loss.
What are some of the causes of hearing loss in the newborn?
Hearing loss in a newborn can be caused by a number of conditions. Some of
the known risk factors include high bilirubin levels (jaundice), drugs that are
toxic to the ears (for example, medicines that are given to the newborn to
battle a serious infection may damage hearing as a side effect), prolonged
mechanical ventilation, low Apgar scores, meningitis, prematurity, and/or low
birth weight. Malformed structures in the middle or outer ear can also lead to
hearing loss. Viral illness during the pregnancy, such as rubella (German
measles) or cytomegalovirus (CMV), can be passed to the newborn and result in
hearing loss. Hearing loss can sometimes be inherited in abnormal genes passed
from the parents to the newborn or be the result of a gene mutation that
occurred during fetal development. Genetic counseling is often recommended for
parents to determine if heredity is the cause of the hearing loss. In
approximately half of all cases of hearing loss, the cause is never determined.
How is hearing in infants tested?
Hearing in infants can be tested using two different methods: the auditory
brainstem response (ABR) evaluations or the otoacoustic emission (OAE)
measures. Both tests are accurate, noninvasive, automated, and do not require any
observable response from the infant. Which test is used depends on the screening
program's choice of instrumentation and training. For a screening tool, both
methods are extremely effective. There are, however, some distinct differences
in how the hearing is measured using an ABR versus an OAE.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Hearing loss (deafness) may be present at birth or it may manifest later in life. Deafness may be genetic or due to damage from noise. Treatment of deafness depends upon its cause.
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