Do you know the signs of hearing loss in babies and young children? Could your child be dealing with either a temporary or permanent hearing loss? Although it seems like a scary topic to approach, there are cognitive, social, emotional and academic benefits to treating a child’s hearing loss with hearing aids. The earlier a child is identified and treated, the better the predicted developmental outcomes. Watch for these signs of hearing loss in your children – and if you notice any, reach out to us at Orange County Physicians Hearing Services to schedule a hearing exam.

Signs of Hearing Loss in Children

Toddlers – If your toddler seems to have delayed speech or does not string two words together, is frequently inattentive or seems to have difficulty learning, it may be a sign of hearing loss. If caught and treated early and effectively, babies with hearing loss can be on par with their peers without hearing loss socially and cognitively by the time they enter kindergarten.

Children – Older children with hearing loss might lean into a speaker with one ear more often than the other, respond and hear sometimes but not other times, asks “what” more often than other children or keeps the TV volume higher than his siblings. At school, teachers may say that a child has difficulty paying attention, does not actively participate in class and struggles socially more so than his or her peers without hearing loss.

If you would like to check out a comprehensive checklist of hearing milestones for your child’s age, click here.

Common Causes of Temporary Hearing Loss in Children

Infection – This type of temporary hearing loss in most common in children who attend day care. An infection can sometimes cause fluid to accumulate in the middle ear, restricting movement of the eardrum and causing hearing loss. Once the infection and fluids subside, so does the hearing loss.

Blockage  – It is not uncommon for excess earwax buildup to cause temporary hearing loss in children. Although this is true, it is still important to remember safe earwax removal techniques and stay away from Q-tips. The safest way to remove excess earwax from a toddler or child’s ear is to have it professionally removed by a specialist.

Trauma – If a child hits their head, they can suffer temporary hearing loss from blood rushing to their middle ear. If this happens, take your child into the doctor – because this may be a sign of a more serious type of hearing loss. 

Swimmer’s Ear – The common condition we associate with children and summers does have the capacity to cause temporary hearing loss. Swimmer’s ear causes fluid buildup and swelling that can limit the sounds that reach the eardrums. The hearing loss usually clears up along with the infection in about a week.

Common Causes of Permanent Hearing Loss in Children

Premature Births – Babies who are born prematurely are at a higher risk of developing permanent hearing loss than those born at full term. Low birth weight and treatment with ventilators and/or antibiotics increase the risk. If your child was premature, ask the hospital if a routine hearing screen was conducted. If not, get one scheduled as soon as possible.

Genetic Conditions – There are some genetic conditions that can cause a baby to be born deaf or hearing impaired. Neither of the child’s parents need to have hearing loss for the genetic mutations to be passed along to the baby.

Noise Exposure – This is one of the most common causes of hearing loss for people of all ages – and babies and children are not excluded. Now that we are constantly surrounded by technology, our world has grown even louder. Common portable listening devices reach about 100 decibels, whereby the safe limit for fully developed adult ears is 85. 

Malformations and Illnesses – Certain illnesses such as meningitis or encephalitis can cause permanent hearing loss, as well eardrum or ear canal malformations or underdeveloped middle ears.

How We Can Help

If you are even slightly alarmed about your child’s hearing, reach out to us at Orange County Physicians Hearing Services today. A quick and painless exam can give you the piece of mind that your child’s hearing is developing just fine – or start you and your child on a journey to better hearing and quality of life.

For more information on pediatric hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss, contact us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services today!

Locations in Mission Viejo, Irvine, San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Laguna Hills

Call us to schedule: 949- 364-4361