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Between 2 and 3 of every 1,000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. That means in Oklahoma each year, at least 150 babies will be born with hearing loss.
Our state mandates that every baby be screened for hearing loss before leaving the hospital; however, babies who pass the newborn hearing screening may also acquire hearing loss after birth. It is important to watch for signs of hearing loss in your child, such as delayed or unclear speech, appearing to hear some sounds but not others or difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, as he or she grows and develops.
Most children diagnosed with hearing loss have no risk factors and are born to hearing parents. If you are concerned that your child is showing signs of hearing loss, it is important to have his or her hearing tested by a pediatric audiologist. There are treatment plans and protocols that can help.