Signs Your Child Could Have a Hearing Problem

A child’s ability to hear impacts so many other things, including cognitive skills and later performance in school. Hearing screenings are performed on newborns, which can detect congenital problems such as deafness. 

An estimated 1 to 3 children per 1,000 have hearing loss. Every state in the United States participates in the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program, and all babies born in the hospital routinely receive screening tests. If your child was born in a birthing center or at home, it’s essential to have this test performed within the first three weeks.

However, even a child who had normal hearing at birth can develop hearing problems as they grow. It’s important to get a hearing screening at Penguin Pediatrics and to look for signs that your child could have a hearing problem.

Causes of hearing loss 

Some of the causes of hearing problems in children include:

• Premature birth
• Newborn jaundice with bilirubin levels high enough to require a blood transfusion
• Family history of childhood hearing loss
• Exposure to certain medications
• Infection, such as meningitis or cytomegalovirus
• Numerous ear infections
• Exposure to very loud noises, even for brief periods
• Structural abnormalities within the ear canal

Regardless of the possible cause, it’s important to seek early intervention as soon as you notice a sign of a problem. Early intervention can help prevent learning delays, social problems, and communication difficulties.

What to watch for with a child’s hearing 

In infants, signs of hearing problems are often subtle. As your child’s hearing develops, you should expect the following behaviors:

• Startled by loud sounds
• Smiles when spoken to
• Seems to recognize your voice
• Notices toys that make sounds
• Reacts to tone changes in your voice
• Looks in the direction of sounds

If your baby doesn’t achieve these hearing milestones or seems to hear some sounds but not others, schedule a screening with your pediatrician.

In older children, including toddlers, the signs of hearing problems are a bit different. They may include:

• Has very poor or limited speech
• Doesn’t respond to conversation-level speech
• Doesn’t respond to their own name
• Gives inappropriate answers to questions, suggesting they didn’t hear the question correctly
• Needs the TV or electronic toys to be at a louder volume
• Shows difficulty with learning
• Often says, “huh?”
• Has trouble paying attention

Protecting your child’s hearing

Early medical intervention is the most important step in protecting your child’s hearing. If the Penguin Pediatrics team detects that your child has any problems with hearing, we can refer you to a specialist. Depending on the suspected cause, this specialist may be an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor or an audiologist.

Aside from medical screening, you can do other things to protect your child’s hearing, regardless of whether a hearing problem already exists. Monitor your child’s use of headphones, avoid exposing them to loud noises or environments, and keep track of the volume on electronics.

Hearing loss in children is an important concern. The sooner you notice a possible problem, the sooner you can get the right help for your child. Call our Ashburn or Stone Ridge, Virginia, office today, or request an appointment online.