Adorable Deaf Baby Smiles When Hearing Aid Gets Switched On

Apr 17, 2020 by apost team

In a now viral video out of Harrogate, England, a deaf baby girl has the widest smile on her face when her parents turn on her hearing aids. Little Georgina Addison was born deaf, but due to early detection, doctors were able to treat her. Each morning, Georgina’s parents, Paul and Louise, turn on their little girl’s hearing aids and introduce Georgina to the wonders of sound. Louise filmed one such morning last December.

The video starts with the then four-month-old Georgina lounging in her crib. When Louise switches the hearing aids on, she asks her little one to say hello to everyone. Baby Georgina responds with a big smile and loud baby talk. The adorable video has thus far been watched over 750,000 times. Part of the reason Paul posted the video to Twitter was to show the world how much joy Georgina feels when he and his wife turn on her hearing aids each morning.

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Deafness in newborn babies is actually fairly common. Medical researchers estimate that about 2 or 3 children out of every 1,000 births have some degree of hearing loss. While these hearing problems might be mild or only impact one ear, many are also severe and are categorized as deafness. Nevertheless, hearing loss can be fixed through the correct treatment, with deaf newborns being able to lead completely normal lives when they get older.

In seeking treatment, it is necessary that parents understand the various types of hearing loss among newborns. Hearing loss typically fits into two categories: progressive and stable. Children with progressive hearing loss have their symptoms get worse over time while the condition of children with stable hearing loss remains the same as they age.

By and large, deafness in newborns is usually rooted in a genetic disorder. Children who endure infections such as meningitis are also at a higher risk of suffering from deafness. Children born weighing less than 1500 grams are also more prone to hearing loss.

Doctors further point out that the most important part of treatment for hearing loss in newborns is early detection. Parents are cautioned to watch their children closely for signs of hearing loss throughout the developmental process. During the first two months of life, a child will blink or get frightened by noises. At 3 to 5 months, babies will turn their head to the source of a sound. At 6 to 9 months, children will actively search for the source of a sound.

If treated too late, deafness in children can result in language problems. Since a child cannot hear, he or she is unable to speak. Pediatricians say that it is possible to diagnose hearing problems in children in the first 3 months of life. If problems are detected, doctors advise beginning treatment in the first 6 months, which will minimize any long-term difficulties.

All in all, Louise and Paul’s video of Georgina shows the joy that comes from a child when he or she is given the tools they need to thrive. While born deaf, the treatment that Georgina received allows her to hear, opening a whole new world for her.

What do you think of the video of Georgina? Have any of the children in your life suffered from hearing difficulties when they were babies? Tell us your stories and pass Georgina's on to your friends!