How to Check Hearing
Many parents wonder if their children are ignoring them or if they have a genuine hearing problem. With young kids, it can be hard to notice a hearing problem because you can’t tell if they are just choosing not to listen, or if they really can’t hear you to listen. If hearing problems are caught early, they can often be corrected, that is why it is recommended that kids have routine hearing screenings. Loss of hearing can lead to communication problems including issues with speech and comprehension. If you want to test your children's hearing, here is what you can do.
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Instructions
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Take advantage of newborn screenings. Most states require that hospitals test the hearing of newborn babies. Take advantage of this early hearing test.
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Have hearing evaluated at annual exams. Your doctor will likely routinely test your children's hearing on a predetermined schedule. If your doctor does not mention a hearing screening, inquire as to if your children can have one.
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If you want to test the hearing of your newborn, notice if he jumps or gets startled in reaction to a loud noise. A baby will usually jump if she hears a door slam or a pot drop to the floor.
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If you want to test the hearing of a baby that is six months or older, notice if he turns his head or eyes when he hears a sound or noise.
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Listen to your baby's speech. If a one-year-old cannot say "Mama" or "Dada" or if your older child seems to have delayed speech, contact your doctor for a hearing test. When a child that should developmentally be speaking isn't, it could indicate a hearing problem.
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See a pediatric audiologist who can perform a hearing test. When your baby is sleeping, or your child is old enough to sit still, the doctor will insert an instrument into the ear or put earphones on your child that can measure the responses from the nerves or the hair cells of the ears.
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Tips & Warnings
If you think your child has a hearing problem contact your doctor right away.
