Hearing loss in children can be caused by a number of things that can occur before, during or after birth (this we will discuss on another day). A possible, acquired, hearing loss is more difficult to identify in older children, as their speech is already developed. Here are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for in children with hearing losses:
- He/she does not react to loud sounds or your voice
- He/she seems to hear fine some of the time and then not respond at other times
- He/she has delayed speech or their speech is intelligible
- He/she asks you to repeat what you said more often
- He/she says that they didn’t hear you. Many parents assume that their children are not paying attention when in fact there may be an unidentified hearing loss.
- He/she turns one ear towards the sound source when listening, or they complain that they can only hear out of his “good ear”
- He/she wants the TV volume louder than others and/or sits close to the TV
- He/she child’s grades fall or their teacher notes that they do not seem to hear or respond as well in the classroom as other children. Concerns by the teacher are very important
- He/she starts to speak more loudly than before.
- If your child looks at you intensely when you speak to them, as if to concentrate, they may be depending more on visual cues for interpreting speech.
- If you as a parent/caregiver just have a feeling, but you can’t put your finger on what your concern is. Don’t let that stop you. Visit an audiologist to ease your mind.
If you suspect that your child has a hearing loss, you should contact the Audiologist near you.