Hearing Loss in Childhood
It’s especially important to catch hearing loss in children since healthy hearing is so essential to language development and learning skills. Hearing loss in children can be caused by a build-up of fluid in the ear (glue ear), which tends to get better over time and can be treated by ENT doctor.
Signs of hearing loss in children
Your child may have a problem with his or her hearing if he or she:
- is slow to learn to talk, or isn't clear when he or she speaks
- doesn't reply when you call him/her
- talks very loudly
- ask you to repeat yourself or respond inappropriately to questions
- turns up the volume of the TV very high
See your audiologist if you're worried about your child's hearing.
Signs of hearing loss in babies
Babies have a hearing check in the first few days after birth, but speak to your health visitor or see your GP if you think they might have difficulty hearing.
May have a problem with his or her hearing if he or she:
- isn’t startled by loud noises
- seem to hear some sounds but not others
- notice you when see you, but not when you call his or her name
- doesn't turn towards voices by 4 months of age
- hasn't started to say any recognisable words by around 15 months
