When you adopt a new child, especially internationally, adoption specialists recommend a complete physical check-up. Included in the suggested battery of tests is a hearing screening.

I belong to a Yahoo group of parents who have adopted Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing children. Unlike most on the group who knowingly pursued the adoption of a deaf child, every couple of months a parent joins whose foundation was rocked because the child they adopted - whom they assumed had normal hearing - has a hearing loss.

What are some signs of hearing loss to watch for in your newly adopted child? If you see any of these signs, call your child's doctor or nurse:

• does not turn to the source of a sound by 3 to 4 months of age


• does not startle or awaken to loud, unexpected sounds



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• does not stop crying or sucking in response to a new sound


• does not say single words, such as "dada" or "mama" by 1 year of age


• turns head when he or she sees you but not if you only call out his or her name


• Seems to hear some sounds but not others

A more complete list of possible factors and signs related to hearing loss can be found at Determining if Your Child has a Hearing Loss

Delayed speech can be a sign of hearing loss, but many children who have been in institutions will also have delayed speech. My daughter came home from Haiti with delays in her first language. She didn't even know the proper words for fork and spoon at four years of age, but after spending time in her orphanage it was easy to see why. A high caretaker to child ratio didn't leave time for nannies to say "Here is a spoon. Eat your rice with your spoon." Instead, food was set before the children and they raced to see who could get the most before another child took their portion.

My daughter also spoke very loudly and continues to do so. I was convinced she must have at least a mild hearing loss, but she tested within the normal range.

A huge benefit of having her hearing checked, however, was that we found a foreign object in her ear. She had decided to put a Nerd candy in her ear sometime after arriving home in the United States, and had we not had her hearing checked, we might not have found it until she developed an ear infection. When we found it, her ear had already started walling off the candy with wax.

May is Better Hearing Month and Cochlear Corporation, a company which makes cochlear implants for the deaf is bringing awareness to people by having a "Raise Your Hand" campaign.

Why "Raise Your Hand"? When you are tested by an audiologist for a hearing check, you are asked to raise your hand when you hear a tone. It makes me think of the underarm deodorant commercial which had the jingle "Raise your hand, raise your hand if you're Sure!" You also only raise your hand during a hearing test if you're sure you hear something.

If your child cannot hear sounds due to a hearing loss, it can lead to delayed speech development and social skills. Without hearing well, your child's learning can be significantly impacted.

How common is hearing loss in children? Statistics from the CDC re: children born in the United States show 1 out of 300 children have a hearing loss. Numbers are likely much higher in third world countries. That only accounts for children who are born with a hearing loss, not those who may have an acquired loss due to illnesses such as rubella, or exposure to medicines such as Gentamycin that also can contribute to hearing loss when given at high levels.

Don't delay. Call your primary care physician or county health department to make an appointment for your child's hearing to be checked.

How to test hearing in babies

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