The case for early identification of hearing loss in children - Auditory system development, experimental auditory deprivation, and development of speech perception and hearing

The auditory systems and brains of infants begin to process auditory inform ation even before birth. The first year of life is a critically important t ime when experience with sound shapes and guides neural connections within the auditory system. Evidence is presented that shows infants' ability to p erceive and distinguish speech between sounds and is developed through audi tory experience in the first months of life as are many other complex audit ory abilities. Also discussed is how the complexity of the auditory neural architecture is developed during the first months of life. Data from animal models of deprivation and intervention complete the argument for necessity for early exposure to sound.