Most parents expect their baby’s first days to be filled with feeding schedules, snuggles, and sleepy moments, not unexpected medical concerns. So when a newborn doesn’t pass the routine hearing screen shortly after birth, it can feel alarming.
While hearing loss in infants can be caused by genetic factors or benign temporary issues, it can also be an early warning sign of underlying birth trauma.
Understanding why hearing loss occurs and what steps parents should take next is crucial. In some cases, unexplained or avoidable hearing loss may suggest that medical negligence contributed to the condition.
When families need answers, our experienced Chicago birth injury lawyers can help investigate what went wrong and whether the injury could have been prevented.
How Hearing Loss Can Be Linked to Birth Trauma
In Illinois, all hospitals must complete newborn hearing screenings before babies can be discharged under state EHDI (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention) guidelines, making any failed results flagged for immediate follow-ups.
Below are several birth-related complications that can impair an infant’s hearing:
1. Improper Use of Delivery Tools
Assisted deliveries using forceps or vacuum extractors carry risks, especially when not used correctly. Excessive pressure or incorrect placement can cause:
- Skull fractures
- Internal bleeding
- Nerve damage near the auditory system
- Trauma to the structures that support hearing
If a provider uses these tools unnecessarily or without proper technique, the resulting trauma may lead to permanent hearing loss.
2. Oxygen Deprivation (Birth Asphyxia)
A newborn’s brain, including the delicate auditory pathways, can be injured when oxygen levels drop during labor or delivery.
Some conditions may prevent the baby’s brain and inner ear structures from receiving adequate oxygen, including:
- Umbilical cord compression
- Placental abruption
- Prolonged labor
- Mismanaged fetal distress
Even brief periods of hypoxia can damage the auditory nerves or the areas of the brain responsible for hearing.
In many cases, doctors and nurses should identify signs of fetal distress early and take prompt action, such as ordering an emergency C-section. Failure to do so can increase the risk of long-term complications, including hearing loss.
3. Infections During Pregnancy or Delivery
Untreated maternal infections such as Group B Strep, CMV, toxoplasmosis, and rubella can pass to the baby and cause inflammation in the brain and inner ear. Newborns exposed to these infections may experience:
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Delayed onset hearing issues
- Developmental challenges later in childhood
Doctors are responsible for screening, diagnosing, and treating infections that pose risks to the fetus. Missing or ignoring signs of infection can amount to negligence.
Why Early Screening and Follow-Up Matter
Every state requires newborn hearing screenings, but the initial results are not always conclusive. A failed or inconclusive test should always be followed by:
- A repeat hearing screening within a few weeks
- Comprehensive audiology testing if the second screen is abnormal
- Neurological exams to evaluate possible underlying brain injury
- Imaging, such as an MRI, when doctors suspect birth trauma
- Evaluation by pediatric ENT or hearing specialists
Early intervention can improve language development, social skills, and long-term outcomes. However, early testing can also reveal a much larger concern: whether the hearing loss stems from an issue that occurred during labor and delivery.
When follow-up testing reveals injury connected to labor or delivery complications, it may point to preventable medical errors.
Once parents understand the medical possibilities, the next question becomes whether the hearing loss was preventable.
When Parents Should Ask Hard Questions
If your baby shows signs of hearing loss shortly after birth, and your pregnancy was low-risk, it’s reasonable to ask whether something preventable occurred. Parents should speak with the medical team to understand:
- What complications occurred during labor or delivery
- Whether fetal distress was noted
- Whether any emergency actions were delayed
- Whether instruments were used appropriately
- Whether maternal infections were screened for and treated
- Whether appropriate antibiotics or antivirals were administered when infection risks were identified
If the answers seem unclear or inconsistent, it may indicate that the hearing loss resulted from medical negligence, rather than an unavoidable condition.
Birth injury cases involving hearing loss can be complex and challenging to navigate. Hospitals may not readily disclose errors, and parents often don’t know what questions to ask. That’s why many families lean on legal advocates to help uncover the truth.
How Our Chicago Birth Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our experienced legal team can:
- Review medical records for signs of negligence
- Consult specialists in audiology, neonatology, and neurology
- Determine whether oxygen deprivation, infection, or trauma played a role
- Identify errors in fetal monitoring or delivery technique
- Pursue compensation to support long-term care and therapy
No one should manage this alone, especially when their child’s future may depend on timely intervention.
Your Baby Deserves Answers—And So Do You
If your newborn has been diagnosed with hearing loss and you suspect something went wrong during labor or delivery, our Chicago birth injury lawyers are ready to help.
Beam Legal Team has spent decades standing up for children harmed by obstetrical, nursing, and neonatal negligence. Our nationally recognized Chicago-based firm handles complex birth injury cases in all 50 states and has secured over $1 billion for our clients, including a $144 million verdict for a child with cerebral palsy caused by birth trauma.
We operate through a team-based model that brings together top trial lawyers, medical consultants, and expert witnesses to uncover the truth and fight for justice.
If you believe your child’s condition may be tied to mismanagement of pregnancy, labor, or newborn care, contact us for a free consultation. Even partial or progressive hearing loss can require lifelong therapy, specialist care, and assistive technology; costs that should not fall on families when negligence played a role.
We’ll investigate what happened, explain your legal options, and pursue the resources your child needs to thrive.