Hearing Loss in Children: What Every Parent Should Know
Hearing is essential for a child’s communication, learning, and emotional development. If left undiagnosed, even mild hearing loss can affect speech, academic growth, and social interaction. This blog covers how to identify hearing loss in children, when to seek help, and how it’s diagnosed.
What Is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss in children can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developing later due to infection, injury, or loud noise exposure).
There are three main types:
- Conductive Hearing Loss: Issues in the outer or middle ear prevent sound from reaching the inner ear.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, often permanent.
- Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural components.
Understanding the type and cause helps guide the best treatment plan.
How to Identify Hearing Loss in Children
Recognizing early signs of hearing issues at different stages is key to timely intervention.
Infants (0–6 months)
- Doesn’t react to loud sounds
- No cooing, babbling, or vocal play
- Doesn’t respond to familiar voices or sounds
Toddlers (6–24 months)
- Limited vocabulary or unclear speech
- Doesn’t follow simple instructions
- Struggles to locate where sounds are coming from
Preschoolers (2–5 years)
- Delayed speech and language development
- Trouble hearing in noisy environments (e.g., classroom)
- Frequently says “what?” or “huh?”
Older Children (5+ years)
- Falls behind academically
- Withdraws socially or avoids group play
- History of repeated ear infections
If your child shows any of these signs, it’s best to consult a specialist promptly.
Who Diagnoses Hearing Loss?
Several trained professionals are involved in identifying and managing hearing issues:
Audiologists
- Conduct hearing tests
- Provide hearing aid recommendations and rehabilitation strategies
ENT (Otorhinolaryngologist) Doctors
- Evaluate and treat infections or structural ear issues
- Perform surgeries if needed
Pediatricians
- Monitor speech and hearing milestones
- Provide referrals to specialists
How Is Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
A combination of behavioral and objective tests are used, depending on the child’s age.
1. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
- Checks inner ear response using a soft probe
- Often used in newborn screening
2. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
- Measures brainstem activity through electrodes while sounds are played
- Ideal for infants or children unable to respond behaviorally
3. Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
- For babies and toddlers
- Child turns toward sound and is rewarded with a visual stimulus
4. Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA)
- For ages 2–5yrs
- Child performs a simple action when a sound is heard
5. Pure-Tone Audiometry
- Standard test for older children
- Measures hearing at various pitches and volumes
6. Tympanometry
- Assesses eardrum movement and middle ear pressure
- Useful for detecting fluid or infection
7. Speech Perception Tests
- Evaluates how well a child hears and understands speech
- May include repeating words or identifying pictures
Where to Get a Hearing Test for Children in Bangalore
In the Kadugodi–Kannamangala area, several pediatric and ENT centers collaborate with audiologists to offer complete hearing evaluations for children.
Make sure to choose a facility that offers both diagnosis and child-friendly care.
Have Concerns? Don’t Wait
Early diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss can make a big difference in a child’s development and confidence. If you’re noticing signs of hearing difficulty, trust your instincts and schedule an evaluation with Dr Swathi ENT specialist at Hashtag Smile, Kadugodi