5 Warning Signs Which Indicate Your Child Might Need a Hearing Test

December 25, 2024

Hearing is one of the most vital human senses which greatly impact the manner in which we interact with the world, particularly in the growing age.

As new parents, we know how excited and careful you are towards the developmental milestones of your precious little one. While some of these milestones may be easy to spot, many of them, including hearing, are the ones that need careful attention and timely intervention. Your child’s hearing ability will greatly affect the way he/she focuses, learns, and interacts with others. Thus it is of utmost importance to be alert and pay attention to the development of your child’s hearing ability. This article explains in detail about the warning signs to look out for during the growing years of your child to check whether you need to go for a pediatric hearing test for your child.

 

Why is a ear hearing test so important for your child?

Hearing tests are crucial for children because they measure how well they can hear different sounds. Hearing loss in early childhood can compromise a child’s ability to learn, speak, develop social skills, and understand spoken language. While some babies have hearing problems by birth, others face a developing hearing loss in their early childhood. A pediatric hearing test can help identify and detect hearing loss in children early so that the treatment and intervention start as early as possible in order to facilitate better development and language skills in the children as soon as possible.

You should look for a pediatric hearing test near me if your child is showing the signs mentioned below:

 

Delayed speech development

Children learn to speak with the help of the sounds they hear. Children who are experiencing hearing loss generally lag behind in the process of speech development as they cannot hear properly. Ideally, by the age of 1 year, your child should be able to speak certain words, and by the age of 2, he should be able to put different words and sounds together. If your child shows signs of delayed speech development as compared to other kids of their age, it might possibly be a call for you to go for a hearing evaluation of your child.

 

They don’t react to loud noises

There are various kinds of loud noises that can occur repeatedly in a normal household setting. These loud noises can include dishes from the kitchen, loud television or speakers, blenders, and other miscellaneous sounds. If your child doesn’t react to these sounds it might be a cause of concern. Children get rattled by these immediate and loud noises. If this is not seen in the case of your kid, he/she may require a hearing test.

 

You have to call their names more than once

This is a sign which requires much more attention than you think. Children, in their growing years, react immediately to their names. If you call your child’s name from afar and they don’t respond even after a few repetitions, it is a sign of concern, and you might need to look for a hearing test near me.

 

They don’t talk too much or talk louder than normal 

Warning signs of hearing loss can be identified in children from the early years of their childhood, up to their school years. When the children are young, they generally tend to speak a lot as they get to learn new ways and forms of expressing themselves. However, if you feel your child speaks very little, it can be much more than a less talkative nature. It is a good idea to get your child checked for possible hearing impairment in such cases. 

While talking less than normal is a warning sign, so is talking higher than normal. For parents whose child constantly tends to talk in a voice louder than normal, it could be an alarming sign. In such cases, you should look for a hearing test as soon as possible.

 

Fluctuation of hearing and listening intently 

There are different types of hearing impairment a child can face. In some cases, a child can hear normally at certain times but can face difficulties in hearing during the others. In such cases, your child can hear you perfectly during some days, while during others, he might struggle to do so. Your child might also lean his ‘good ear’ towards you in order to listen properly. You need to pay keen attention to these details and the behavioral patterns of your child.

On the other hand, if you feel your child is paying a lot of attention and effort in listening to whatever you’re speaking in a normal voice and tone, it could also be an indicator of a possible hearing impairment. This could be due to the fact that your child needs to put all his attention towards a voice in order to be able to listen to it. This requires an urgent decision from your side to look for an ear test near me.

If you are looking for the best pediatric hearing test near me, Sohana Hospital Mohali offers the latest, most advanced, and painless techniques of hearing screening such as BERA and OAE, which help you ascertain whether your child is hearing properly or not. Our experienced team of pediatricians work closely with ENT specialists to offer the best possible treatment for children with hearing challenges, in order to make sure that every child gets the most harmonious future he deserves.