One of the causes of hearing loss is birth asphyxia. Birth asphyxia, in which a fetus or newborn is deprived of oxygen, can happen either before, during, or soon after a baby is born. In addition to causing hearing loss, birth asphyxia can also cause injury to organs, or result in other conditions such as cerebral palsy or vision loss.
Causes of Birth Asphyxia
There are many causes of birth asphyxia. Causes include umbilical cord compression, trauma during birth, or a blocked airway. Birth asphyxia can result in death of the fetus or newborn.
Birth Asphyxia Statistics
Birth asphyxia, when survived, results in mild hearing loss in approximately 3% of newborns. Another 3% develop at least severe hearing loss from birth asphyxia. The World Health Organization estimates that annually, more than a million children worldwide survive birth asphyxia, but develop disabling conditions. In developed countries, severe birth asphyxia occurs in about one in 1,000 live births.
Sources:
Perinatal asphyxia. Clinical Evidence. http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/chd/0320/0320_background.jsp. Accessed October 2010.
Van Cleve, John V., Ed. Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness, Volume 2, page 25
World Health Organization, The World Health Report, Chapter 5. http://www.who.int/whr/2005/chapter5/en/index1.html. Accessed October 2010.
