Even though children are young, and usually have not been as exposed to as many loud noises as older people have, it is still important for children to have their hearing tested. This is because if a child has a hearing issue and it goes undiagnosed, then it can have a negative effect on his or her development.

Also, children may not necessarily know that anything is wrong with their hearing, or be able to articulate it, even if they suspect something is wrong.

1. When should my child’s hearing be tested?

It is common, and advisable for your child’s hearing to be tested within a few weeks of birth, at around eight to twelve months after birth, at around two to two and a half years old, and at around five years old. After this, your child may be tested several more times before reaching adulthood.

2. Where should my child’s hearing be tested?

Hearing tests for children are commonly conducted in audiologists’ offices. While many schools or pediatricians may conduct hearing screenings, these exams are not as technical or in-depth as a true hearing test and only indicate if further testing is needed.

3. What kinds of hearing tests will be used for my child?

There are a number of different hearing tests that may be used on your child. For example, play audiometry, visual reinforcement audiometry, pure-tone test, bone conduction, speech perception, tympanometry and other types of hearing tests may all be used. The type of test that is used on your child can vary depending on whether or not they are demonstrating any particular hearing impairment symptoms.

4. How do I know if my child is having a hearing problem and should be tested?

There are many different signs that your child could be having a hearing issue. For example, if they do not respond when you call their name, this could be a definite sign of hearing impairment. Also, mispronouncing words, talking loudly, turning up the volume on the television very loudly and inattentiveness can all be signs that your child may have a hearing impairment. If a hearing loss is present in your child and not addressed, language and learning development could be impacted. If you see any of these signs occurring in your child, then you should have their hearing tested.