Daniela Carvalho, MD, highlighted the role of pediatricians in guiding families through early hearing intervention and language development decisions.
Early identification and timely intervention remain foundational to optimal outcomes for children with hearing loss, according to Daniela Carvalho, MD, MMM, Pediatric otolaryngologist, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California. In a follow-up discussion after
Carvalho noted that current Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) frameworks increasingly acknowledge multiple communication pathways, including spoken language and sign language. “It is a choice of the family,” she said, emphasizing that while many institutions are open to diverse communication strategies, “the vast majority of families of kids that have hearing loss here…opt for oral, verbal language.” Respecting family preferences while ensuring timely access to language exposure, she said, is essential.
She reinforced continued adherence to Joint Committee on Infant Hearing benchmarks, which recommend hearing screening by 1 month of age, diagnostic confirmation by 3 months, and intervention by 6 months. “I think we should continue to follow the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing,” Carvalho said, underscoring that early timelines remain critical regardless of the chosen communication modality.
From a primary care perspective, Carvalho highlighted the importance of active coordination. Pediatricians and general practitioners can play a central role in helping families complete recommended testing and connect with appropriate services, including hearing aids, speech therapy, or sign language instruction. “Help the child with language as soon as possible,” she said, noting that early language access—by any modality—is closely tied to later developmental outcomes.
Carvalho added that families often need reassurance and guidance as they navigate complex decisions following a diagnosis of hearing loss. Ensuring that language exposure begins early, she said, can support more typical developmental trajectories. “They need to have that language going as soon as possible to help them with normal development in the future,” she said.
The message, Carvalho emphasized, is not about prescribing a single approach but about avoiding delays. Whether families pursue oral language, sign language, or a combined strategy, timely intervention remains the priority.
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