Detecting Hearing Problems In Children

Children grow and develop at a phenomenal rate. Delays in some milestones however could possibly indicate hearing loss. Children who get treated early on for this condition can have a significant difference made to their quality of life and the rate at which they develop. Parents should consult their family doctor immediately if they believe that their child has difficulty hearing.

What To Look For

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• Ages 0 to 3 months – Pay attention to the way the child responds to loud noises, awakens to a loud sound and even appears comforted to the sound of their parent’s voice. During this age, the child should be able to make cooing noises from the back of their throat.
• Ages 3 to 12 months – Look for actions from the child as they react to sounds. The child should turn their head or eyes towards the parent as they speak to their child, smile when talked to and even make different sounding cries when he or she is hungry or needs their nappy changed.
• Ages 6 to 12 months – The child should be able to respond to their own name, understand a few words and even react to the changes in tone of their parent’s voice.
• Age 12 months – The child should be able to recognise their own name and understand the term, “no”.
• Ages 12 to 18 months – During this age, the child should be able to point to things and have a few vocabulary words such as “mama” and “dada”.
• Ages 18 to 24 months – The child’s vocabulary should be at fifty words or more during these months and should easily respond to “yes” and “no” questions.
• Ages 2 to 3 years – The child’s vocabulary should be on average 270 words. The child at this age should be able to sing terse songs and even make up three to four word sentences.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If a parent or guardian suspects that their child is unable to perform the above mentioned tasks, set an immediate appointment with the child’s paediatrician.

Signs And Causes Of Hearing Loss In Children

There are many causes and signs of hearing loss in children, which is all the more reason to have a child’s hearing tested as soon and as often as needed. A few of the signs and causes for a hearing test include:
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• A lower birth rate less than two pounds
• Severe jaundice after the child has been born
• Maternal sickness during the pregnancy (e.g. rubella)
• Recurring and frequent ear infections
• Crouzon syndrome, Alport syndrome (a form of kidney disease), and Down syndrome
• Hearing loss can be inherited – check the child’s family history
• A delay in speech

By observing your child’s reactions and responses as a newborn to age three as well keeping informed about the various causes and signs of hearing loss. Children can be tested and possibly treated quickly by their paediatrician.