Hearing loss is a natural problem that a child can face from birth through childhood. Sometimes there may be no reason for a hearing loss, and the inheritance of the problem is not the reason to blame. Toddlers can face this problem even if no one in their family previously had.
It may be difficult for you to understand if the child faces a hearing loss. They cannot tell, and their brain is at the development stage, which may seem normal to them. However, some signs and symptoms reflect the hearing loss problem.
Please keep reading to understand how you can know if your toddler is suffering from hearing loss.
Key Notes
- Hearing loss is one of the most serious problems
- Observe the behavior of your child if you notice the signs of hearing loss
- Get your child’s tests, and a hearing screen is done for a detailed examination
- Make sure to get it treated it in time otherwise it may stay as a permanent issue
Signs That Tell You If Your Child Is Suffering From Hear Loss
Here is a list of signs that tell your child is suffering from hearing loss and needs immediate treatment.
1. No Reactions
This is one of the most common signs that you will see if your child is suffering from hearing loss. Make sure to observe to interpret their behavior carefully. There are some things that they will not react to at all. Some of them include:
- Loud sounds
- Calling their name
- It sounds like they are being held
These are the things you will receive no reaction from the baby. If you think your child is suffering from hearing loss, you can try this and confirm. However, not reacting to sounds is not only a sign.
2. Speech Problems
Age 2 to 3 is when most kids at least try saying understandable words, and their speech is more than just babble.
A toddler’s brain is developed at such a level that they can repeat the words you ask them. So, for example, many parents ask their child to say, dad or mom.
However, if your child is around three years old and babbles without making any sense, that can mean that they cannot hear what we are asking them to say.
This is because the words have not made sense and a combination in their brain as they have not heard it.
Therefore, if your child is facing speech problems, hearing loss can be blamed here.
3. Ear Is Malformed At Birth
This is one of the signs that are in front of you. However, if the ear is malformed at birth is not confirmed that the child will face hearing loss. So there may be chances for it, but it is not confirmed.
Therefore, with time passing, you will get to know if the malformed ear is creating an issue for hearing or not. But your child was born with a malformed ear, and there are many precautions that you already have to take.
But it depends on what the doctor asks you to follow.
4. Unusual Response To The Questions Asked
The age of three years is enough for a child to speak and respond to many things. As we mentioned, a child with hearing loss wouldn’t know that he is. Things may seem normal to him, so he will respond in a manner he thinks is fit for it.
If you ask questions to your child ad get an unusual response, it is obvious that you will let it go for the first time. However, if this keeps on happening, it is something that you need to turn your attention to.
5. Tries To Convey the Message Through Actions
Due to the hearing loss, the child doesn’t know words or cannot use the combination of words to make sense of their sentences. Therefore, the child may use actions to convey what they are trying to say.
This may be normal for one time, but if it is done regularly, confirm if your child is facing hearing loss.
What To Do If A Toddler Is Facing Hearing Loss?
If you think your child is facing hearing loss, it is a problem that needs to be responded to immediately. Make sure to go to the pediatrician without any hesitation. Many hearing screening tests can easily tell if your child is suffering from hearing loss or not.
The screening test is painless and can be done even if your child is sleeping. So don’t worry; it is a simple and easy process.
There are different types of tests that the pediatrician may do. Some of them include:
- BAER test is done to check the brain’s response to various types of sounds. This one can also be done if the child is sleeping
- OAE test is to confirm the response of the inner ear to sounds
- A behavioral audiometry test is a complete screening test. It includes testing each part of there and seeing if the body responds to sounds. This test is the only one that requires the child to be awake.
All these tests will confirm if your child is facing hearing loss. The tests are essential as they will explain why it has happened and if it can be treated or not. In addition, the tests will provide the level of damage.
Can Hearing Loss In Toddlers Be Treat?
Many parents whose children have hearing loss have this question. In some cases, the hearing loss be managed or treated. But it depends on the reason the loss was caused and its damage to the ear.
After a thorough inspection and tests by the doctors, it can be confirmed it the hearing loss of your child can be treated or not. So whenever you think that your child is suffering from hearing loss, don’t wait for any other signal.
Head towards the pediatrician and get your child checked.
Final Words
Hearing loss in toddlers is one of the most common problems. Unfortunately, some are treated, and some children have to live like that. Every parent should take extreme care of their child, and if they observe any of the signs, they should head to the doctor right away.
