When is the best time to treat neurological deafness in children? 1. What should I do if my child fails the newborn hearing screening? When should I go back for a review? Newborns born normally are screened in two stages: the initial screening is done from 48 hours after birth to the time of discharge, and those who fail the initial screening and those who miss the screening are rescreened within 42 days. Those who do not pass the re-screening should be referred to the provincial hearing testing center for further diagnosis within 3 months of birth. 2. How old should a child be when a hearing test is performed to confirm the diagnosis? Newborns who do not pass the re-screening should be diagnosed within 3 months of birth. The hearing diagnosis should be based on cross-checking the test results to determine the degree and nature of hearing impairment. Hearing tests, which should include electrophysiological and behavioral hearing tests, should include basic tests such as acoustic conductance (with 1000 Hz sound detection), otoacoustic emissions (OAE), auditory brainstem response (ABR), and behavioral audiometry. Relevant imaging and laboratory ancillary tests are performed when necessary. 3.How should children with different degrees of neurological deafness be treated? Children diagnosed with hearing impairment should undergo appropriate clinical medical and audiological interventions within 6 months of birth. Depending on the degree of hearing loss, hearing impairment can be classified as mild deafness, moderate deafness, profound deafness, profound deafness and total deafness. For mild to moderate neurological deafness, medications such as nerve growth factor can be considered; while for severe or above neurological deafness, hearing aids or cochlear implants should be considered. 4.When is a cochlear implant necessary? When is the best time to have a cochlear implant? A cochlear implant is an option for children with severe or profound deafness in both ears, with lesions located in the cochlea. The younger the child is at the time of implantation, the better the outcome. Cochlear implants can be performed on children as young as 12 months of age in general. It is now generally recommended that cochlear implantation be performed as early as possible. Infants and toddlers under the age of one can be implanted directly without hearing aids to intervene in the development of hearing and speech as early as possible. 5. What are the problems that can occur if the best time for implantation is missed? Is there anything else I can do to help my child recover his or her hearing? Before the age of 3, the child’s brain is developing the fastest and is the most critical period for learning language. If deafness occurs during this time, it can seriously affect the child’s hearing and speech development, as well as other aspects of development. If deafness is detected, diagnosed and implanted as early as possible, deaf children can receive various sound and speech stimuli in their parents’ arms and receive scientific rehabilitation training, and their development in all aspects will be close to that of normal children, and the quality of rehabilitation will be significantly improved. 6.How long does it take to do auditory speech rehabilitation after cochlear implantation? After the cochlear implant is turned on and commissioned in January, auditory speech rehabilitation can be conducted after the implant is turned on. Patients who are able to do so should be rehabilitated at a rehabilitation center for deaf children with experience in rehabilitation, and then continue rehabilitation at home after mastering the basic methods, while requiring the active participation of parents. Children with prelingual deafness are just beginning to hear sounds after the cochlear implant is turned on. With a hearing age of 0, they need to start from the beginning, hear sounds, gradually discriminate, understand, and then begin to speak.