For all you avid Facebook users out there, here’s some good news. Not only is Facebook a way to communicate with friends and loved ones all around the world, it can also be a powerful tool for advice and social support. Randi Zuckerberg, a media executive and mother of two, used social media to help diagnose her son’s hearing loss.

Randi Zuckerberg’s Story

In an article for Today, Zuckerberg said she often relies on social media for information, advice, and support. Zuckerberg is an executive producer for Sprout Channel’s series DOT, and is a New York Times bestselling author. The Zuckerbergs’ first child, Asher, was a happy, healthy toddler when his younger brother, Simcha was born. As he started to grow, his parents began noticing a few problems. At 20 months old, Simcha (nicknamed Simi) was a happy infant, but was slow to learn new skills. The nearly 2-year-old still wasn’t talking or walking, so Zuckerberg started worrying. Seeking advice from her friends, Zuckerberg allowed her fears to fade as they all told her Simi was still so young that she had nothing to be concerned about.

The Old Facebook Post

Then it happened. One day in April Zuckerberg clicked on a Facebook link showing her a past Facebook post. It was a post of things Asher had said when he was only 18 months old, even younger than Simi. He had been using full sentences, but Simi still couldn’t even say “mama”. This gave Zuckerberg the push she needed to realize there must be something wrong with Simi.

Zuckerberg sought the help of an audiologist, who diagnosed Simi with hearing loss. He’d had an ear infection as an infant, and had never fully recovered. Simi had a surgery to resolve the damage caused by the infection, and was placed in speech therapy. Simi is now 2 years old, and his hearing is great! He’s learning to speak in full sentences, and will be able to grow and develop normally.

Zuckerberg credits social media for helping her see Simi’s hearing loss. Without that Facebook post, she may not have identified his hearing loss until much later. Living with untreated hearing loss has severe repercussions, especially for an infant. At such a young age, it will slow cognitive and social development, and can have negative effects that last a life time.

Social Media and Support

Not only did Facebook help Zuckerberg recognize her son’s hearing loss, social media was also a source of social support. Going through this emotional time, Zuckerberg felt guilty for not realizing her son had hearing loss earlier, and was worried about his future. She could connect with other moms on social media who’d had similar experiences and they were able to offer support and reassure her.

A Word of Warning

Zuckerberg is thankful that social media helped her realize her son was in trouble, and provided support for her in that difficult time. It gave her the push to seek diagnosis and treatment for Simi. But, she warned Today, social media can be a double-edged sword. When she first thought there might be something wrong with Simi, her friends lulled her fears and told her not to worry. Zuckerberg said that social media can be a huge blessing, but that you still should trust your gut and do your own research, especially when it comes to your kids and their health. For Simi, the story has a happy ending. He is well on his way to recovery, and is on track to develop normally along with his hearing peers. To read more of Zuckerberg’s story, click here.