Screening, technology helping babies with hearing loss

From: WIS - Columbia,SC,USA - Apr 4, 2006

(Columbia) April 4, 2006 - Every year, more than 12,000 babies are born with some kind of hearing loss in the United States.

Improved technology and better screening methods are helping many children develop the language skills they need. In particular, cochlear implant programs are making a big difference.

Unfortunately, not all parents are aware of the options available to them. Getting the message out is what brought medical and educational leaders to the Columbia Tuesday afternoon.

Heather Whitestone McCallum is a former Miss America who suffers from hearing loss. She says it's vital to get children the help they need early, "But I do believe that the child, when they get the cochlear implant and early education, they do far better than I am doing. Because the first three years is a critical, imperative time for all of us to develop speech and language."

Babies as young as 12 months old are eligible for cochlear implants.

Posted 6:58pm by Chantelle Janelle

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