Hearing loss in children may be caused by genetic conditions, injury during birth, ear infections, noise exposure, head trauma, or illness. With infants, detecting a hearing loss is more difficult since the infant cannot tell the parents or doctor about the lack of the ability to hear.
There are some signs of hearing loss in children that parents should know. An infant with normal hearing has an innate startle reflex. The startle reflex is noticeable when the infant hears a sudden, loud sound. The infant may shake or have a jerky movement at the time of the noise. An infant who cannot hear will not react to a noise in this manner.
A lack of interaction is one of the signs of hearing loss in children. When an infant hears a nearby voice, the infant will often look for the source of the voice. When a rattle is shaken to the side of infants, the infants will usually turn their head towards the sound. A failure to respond to sound is a sign of hearing loss in infants.
If a parent notices that a toddler or child turns their head towards sound or seems to hear sounds better with one ear than the other, this can be a sign of hearing loss in children. A delay in the development of speech is another sign of hearing loss in toddlers.
Ear infections are a common cause of hearing loss in infants, toddlers, and school-aged children. An infant or toddler may not be able to tell the parents with words that they have an ear ache, but many times the child’s actions will show the problem. A child with an ear infection may be fussy, tug at the ear, or may have noticeable difficulty hearing. A doctor should be consulted to determine if the ear infection should be treated with antibiotics.
If a parent notices one or more signs of hearing loss, it does not necessarily mean that the child has a hearing impairment. The presence of the signs of hearing impairment should prompt a visit to the doctor for an evaluation. Early intervention is key for positive outcomes in the treatment of hearing loss in children. The physician will test the child’s hearing and may refer the child to a specialist for a thorough evaluation and treatment recommendations.