Children can be born with a hearing problem or they can develop one during childhood. The American Hearing Aid Associates explains that children who are exposed to certain medications may be at risk for losing their hearing; low birth weight babies and those who measure low on the Apgar scale are also at high risk for hearing loss. No matter what the cause of hearing loss, a child who has hearing problems may act differently than others in his peer group.
Step 1
Engage your child in conversation so you can hear his speech capabilities. KidsHealth states that your child, especially a toddler, may use limited speech or unintelligible words when he's suffering from a hearing problem.
Step 2
Talk to your child's teachers about her performance in school. If she's struggling to keep up, she could be having a hard time hearing the lesson. KidsHealth lists inattentiveness as another sign of hearing loss, in addition to academic problems.
You might also notice similar difficulties at home, such as trouble following directions accurately.
Step 3
Set the volume of the television, MP3 player or other media to a certain level--one at which you can comfortably hear the audio--and see how your child reacts. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association reports that children who have a hearing loss routinely turn the volume to higher levels.
Step 4
Keep a health log about your child's illnesses. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, otitis media, or inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear, can cause hearing loss in children and is the most common childhood disease. You child could have hearing problems or become at-risk if he's suffered from frequent earaches and infections.
Step 5
Take your child to her pediatrician if you are concerned about speech delays or behavioral changes associated with hearing loss. The doctor will examine your child to check for structural abnormalities, such as impacted earwax, that could be hindering her hearing. You may be referred to an audiologist, who will evaluate your child and perform a series of tests that determine if a hearing loss exists and possible causes.
Things You'll Need
- Health log
- Hearing test
