Hearing loss in children
What is hearing loss in children?
Hearing loss is when any part of the ear is not working the way it should. This includes the outer, middle and inner as well as the hearing nerve and portion of the brain dedicated to hearing.
Significant hearing loss is uncommon in newborns and young children. However, nearly all children develop transient hearing loss related to middle ear infections or glue ear during early childhood. Hearing loss in the first years of life can cause delays in speech, language, and brain development.
For newborns, detection and intervention for hearing loss prior to six months of age results in significantly better outcomes than intervention after six months of age.
How do I know if my child has hearing loss?
If you think that your child might have hearing loss, ask the child’s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait!
Even if a child has passed a hearing screening before, it is important to look out for the following signs.
Signs in Babies
- Does not startle at loud noises.
- Does not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age.
- Does not say single words, such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age.
- Turns head when he or she sees you but not if you only call out his or her name. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.
- Seems to hear some sounds but not others.
Signs in Children
- Speech is delayed.
- Speech is not clear.
- Does not follow directions. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss.
- Often says, “Huh?”
- Turns the TV volume up too high.
What are the speech and language milestones of children?
Monitoring of speech and hearing milestones is one way of determining if your child is developing appropriately.
Birth to 1 year
Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
Birth–3 Months
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Birth–3 Months
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4–6 Months
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4–6 Months
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7 Months–1 Year
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7 Months–1 Year
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One to two years
Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
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Two to three years
Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
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Three to four years
Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
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Four to five years
Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
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This information represents, on average, the age by which most monolingual speaking children will accomplish the listed milestones. Children typically do not master all items in a category until they reach the upper age in each age range. Just because your child has not accomplished one skill within an age range does not mean the child has a disorder. However, if you have answered no to the majority of items in an age range, seek the advice of a doctor.
Should my child go for screening?
Hearing screening can tell if a child might have hearing loss. Hearing screening is easy and is not painful. In fact, babies are often asleep while being screened. It takes a very short time — usually only a few minutes.
Babies-All babies should have a hearing screening no later than 1 month of age. Most babies have their hearing screened while still in the hospital. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it’s very important to get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months of age.
Children-Children should have their hearing tested before they enter school or any time there is a concern about the child’s hearing. Children who do not pass the hearing screening need to get a full hearing test as soon as possible.
What are the causes or risk factors of hearing loss in children?
- Caregiver concerns regarding hearing, speech, language, or developmental delay.
- Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss.
- Neonatal intensive care of more than 5 days
- Infections within the womb
- Genetics
- Abnormalities of the face and skull
- Syndromes or neuro-degenerative disorder associated with hearing loss or progressive or late-onset hearing loss.
- Head injury that requires hospitalization.
- Chemotherapy
- Recurrent or persistent otitis media for at least 3 months.
What are the treatment options?
No single treatment or intervention is the answer for every person or family. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the way. There are many different types of communication options for children with hearing loss and for their families. Some of these options include:
- Learning other ways to communicate, such as sign language
- Technology to help with communication, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Medicine and surgery to correct some types of hearing loss
- Family support services
Disclaimer
The content on the Nairobi ENT website is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.
References
- Harlor, Allen D. Buz, and Charles Bower. “Hearing assessment in infants and children: recommendations beyond neonatal screening.” Pediatrics4 (2009): 1252-1263.
- American speech, language and hearing association.
Further information
- babyhearing.org
- handsandvoices.org