I am concerned about my child’s hearing
For children, hearing is essential for speech, language, and social and learning development. Identifying hearing concerns early can help make sure children get the support they need to reach their full potential.
Watch for these developmental milestones, which have been adapted from The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.
By 0-3 months, babies should:
- Startle or awake to loud sounds
- Calm to soft, familiar sounds
- Turn their head to new sounds
By 4-6 months, babies should:
- Look toward new sounds
- Enjoy toys that make sounds
- Be scared of loud noises/shouting
- Begin to repeat sounds
By 7-12 months, babies should:
- Look at items being talked about
- Respond to their name and other sounds like a phone ringing
- Respond to short requests like, “Come here”
By 1-2 years, toddlers should:
- Have a growing vocabulary, knowing more words as each month passes
- Point to body parts correctly when asked
- Follow two-step commands
Warning signs to look for
Baby
- Not startling to loud noises
- Not responding to familiar voices
- Limited babbling
- Not imitating sounds
Toddler
- Not following simple instructions
- Turning electronics up very loud
- Speaks very few or no words
Preschooler/school-age child
- Has difficulty understanding speech
- Asks for repetitions frequently
- Does not seem to be paying attention and has difficulty following instructions
Next steps if you think your child may have hearing loss
- Schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician and bring up your concerns. Often, the pediatrician can do a hearing screening in the office.
- If your child is 0-3 years old, contact your state’s early intervention provider. In Indiana, it is First Steps. It can provide developmental evaluations in a child’s home or another familiar environment.
- If your child is in school, ask your child’s teacher if they have similar concerns. You can have the teacher fill out an observation form similar to this example.
- Contact an audiologist, who is a hearing specialist. It is important to find a provider who is comfortable testing children, especially if your child is under 5, as many younger children require special testing methods.
My child has hearing loss, and I need support
Please know that you are not alone and that there are support systems in place to help parents of kids with hearing loss. Often, your child’s audiologist will have resources specific to your area.
Hands and Voices is a nonprofit parent-support group with chapters in most states.