| Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is a random, | | | | evidence of how the hearing problems directly causes |
| unexpected tragedy that happens in an estimated 50 | | | | death. |
| out of 100,000 births. Parents are often left wondering | | | | The only thing that parents can do to hopefully prevent |
| what they did wrong, when really, even scientists do | | | | SIDS is to eliminate the risk factors that some doctors |
| not understand the cause of SIDS. There are some | | | | believe might lead to death. While researchers are |
| theories, of course, but no conclusive evidence. SIDS | | | | much more indecisive of what directly causes SIDS, |
| remains an angel of death that brings sadness in its | | | | most tend to agree on the following risks factors: |
| wake. | | | | - Sleeping on the stomach |
| Most people may not realize that SIDS is actually the | | | | - Sleeping on a too-soft surface |
| leading cause of death for babies between the age of | | | | - Becoming too hot while sleeping |
| 1-12 months. Because no one knows what precipitates | | | | - Having a teen mother |
| SIDS, it is the the cause of death given to babies who | | | | - Having a mother who did drugs or smoked while |
| die for no apparent reason. | | | | pregnant |
| Researchers have come up with several theories to | | | | - Being around someone who smokes a lot |
| explain SIDS, but there is no concrete evidence as to | | | | - Premature birth and/or abnormally low birth weight |
| the reason babies suddenly die. Some explanations | | | | - Being African-American or Native American |
| include: | | | | - Being male Of course, some of these risk factors |
| - An unknown birth defect | | | | are completely out of parents' control, such as the |
| - An infection or other such stress on a baby | | | | gender of the baby. Also, African-American and |
| - Sleeping on the stomach | | | | Native Americans should not be overly nervous about |
| - Inhaling secondhand smoke One study performed at | | | | having children. However, parents should try to |
| Seattle Children's Hospital by Dr. Daniel Rubens linked | | | | eliminate the other possible prompters of SIDS |
| hearing disabilities to SIDS. The doctor found that | | | | because it is the only thing that we can currently do to |
| babies who heard better in their left ear, rather than | | | | help babies. |
| the right ear as in most children, were more likely to | | | | For more information on birth injuries to which babies |
| suddenly and unexpectedly die. Although this could be | | | | are susceptible, please check out the interesting |
| helpful to determine if your baby is at a higher risk to | | | | articles on the website of Lowenthal & Abrams, |
| die of SIDS, we still do not have any conclusive | | | | P.C. |