A Quiet Crisis

Show Voice Options Thousands of South African Babies Diagnosed Late with Hearing Loss, health experts in South Africa are raising alarm over a growing number of babies whose hearing impairments are only diagnosed long after birth, despite the condition being one of the most common sensory disorders in children. Researchers estimate that more than 6,000 South African infants develop hearing loss each year, yet many are identified only after parents notice speech delays or developmental challenges, often well beyond the recommended screening period. Medical specialists emphasise that hearing loss should ideally be detected within the first month of life and treated before six months to support normal language development, but limited access to universal newborn hearing screening in public hospitals means many infants leave healthcare facilities without ever being tested. As a result, children may miss crucial developmental windows for speech, learning and social interaction, placing added pressure on families and educators while highlighting the urgent need for broader early-screening programmes across the country.