We all want what’s best for our children. And that means ensuring that they have everything they need to develop well and reach their full potential. There are many elements that go into making sure this is the case, including that they’re able to hear as well as possible. A test is performed on every baby in the United States to check for deafness, but a positive result at that time doesn’t exclude hearing issues later in childhood.

As such, it’s important to check that your child does not have any hearing problems. Though it is rare for children to have hearing problems that require hearing aids, it does happen. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at everything you need to know about hearing loss in children, including the causes, what to look for and the treatment options that are available if it’s determined that your child does have some hearing loss.

Understanding Hearing Loss in Children

Hearing loss in children means that the child cannot hear sounds that are below a certain level. This could mean they have trouble hearing sounds in one or both of their ears. Audiologists divide hearing loss in children into separate categories, which are as follows:

Slight hearing loss: Cannot hear below 15-20 decibels.
Mild hearing loss: Cannot hear below 25-40 decibels.
Moderate hearing loss: Cannot hear below 41-60 decibels.
Severe hearing loss: Cannot hear below 61-80 decibels.
Profound hearing loss: Cannot hear below 81+ decibels.

Hearing loss is about more than just volume, however. Some children have difficulty hearing certain pitches. For example, a child might hear low-pitched sounds just fine but struggle with high-pitched sounds. If you suspect that your child might have a hearing problem, then it’ll be imperative to schedule an appointment with an audiologist.

What To Look For

Most hearing problems in children are first noted by the parents. An audiologist may confirm the suspicions, but it’s the parents who first noticed the signs that their child was having trouble hearing. Here are some of the signs that you should be looking out for.

In Young Children

You judge hearing problems in infants to how you would judge them in older children. In infants, look out for the following:

The child is not startled when a loud noise is made.
They do not show physical signs of response when you change your tone of voice.
They don’t respond to sounds of toys and television
They fail to look in the direction from where sounds are made.

In Older Children

Older children, including those of toddler age and above, will show different signs if they’re experiencing hearing loss. These include:

A limited range of speech
Fails to respond when their name is spoken.
They listen to television and music at a louder than average volume.
Gives answers to questions which suggest they did not hear the question properly.

Hearing Tests

While you may suspect that your child has a hearing problem, there’s only one way to know for sure, and that’s by getting a hearing test performed by an audiologist. They’ll be able to perform a series of tests to not only determine if there is a hearing issue present but also the extent of it.

As we saw at the beginning of the blog, there can be a wide range of hearing loss experiences, from slight hearing loss all the way through to profound hearing loss. The audiologist will be able to tell you where on this scale your child is, if at all. The hearing loss may be caused by a temporary issue.

What Treatment Options Are Available?

You may not want to hear that your child has some form of hearing loss, but it’s important to stay calm. Today, there are plenty of treatment options available. The most common form of treatment is a hearing aid, which is available in a variety of different styles. The audiologist will work with you and your child to determine which is the right option.

As we’ve just seen, there are plenty of treatment options available for children who are experiencing hearing loss. The first step towards improving their quality of life is to schedule a hearing test with us here at Audiology and Hearing Aid Center. You can get in touch by calling us at (920) 486-6922 or by clicking the schedule online button at the top of this page. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon.