Symptoms of Hearing Loss > Infants and Children

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS A HEARING TEST?

Does your child:

• frequently say "huh" or "what" or ask for things to be repeated?
• respond inconsistently to sound-sometimes hearing and other times not?
  
• have a history of ear infections, ear aches or draining ears?
  
• talk in a too-soft or too-loud voice?
  
• sometimes fail to respond when called?
  
• as an infant, fail to awaken or quiet to the sound of parents' voices?
  
• turn one ear toward an interesting sound?
  
• turn-up the volume on the TV or radio in order to hear it?
  
• confuse sounds that are alike?
  
• have poorer speech or language than expected for his/her age?
  
• not use verbal language?
  
• often answer a question with an unrelated answer?
  
• fail to startle, move, cry or react in some way to unexpected loud noises?
  
• fail school hearing screenings?

If you answered "Yes" to one or more of these factors, your child may be at risk for hearing loss. If your child is at risk you should have a complete audiological assessment.

If you did not answer "Yes" to any of these factors, but you suspect that your child is not hearing normally, have your child's hearing tested to be sure.