Childhood hearing loss is a serious issue in the United States. Wholly 83% of kids will have at least one ear infection by the time they turn three years old, and severe ear and sinus infections can lead to future breathing difficulties, cholesteatoma, and other chronic ear problems. Of course, there are many other ways hearing loss can develop in young people.

If you suspect your child to have any hearing loss problems, get professional medical help today. Here are a few things to look out for that could potentially indicate a hearing issue in your child.

• Sporadic Hearing — Often, the earliest sign of childhood hearing issues is when a child can hear perfectly fine one minute and then not hear or respond another. If their hearing is regularly inconsistent, seek medical attention from a pediatric ENT specialist.
• Struggling in School — There are plenty of factors that can contribute to your child struggling in school, most of them perfectly ordinary for kids. If you do notice a sudden decline in interest or ability, at least perform some tests on their hearing to see if that played a role in the change. If your kid does in fact have hearing problems, it’ll be difficult for them to even determine what’s wrong in the first place. They simply will not hear the teacher’s instructions and lesson plans, causing them to withdraw from school. Talk to your child’s teacher or pediatrician as soon as grades start dropping, and together you can find a solution.
• Visually Struggling During Conversations — Another key sign that your child may have hearing issues: when he or she is clearly struggling during regular conversation. You might not be able to tell if they can hear you fully, but you’ll be able to see the look on their face during conversation. If they are straining and looking intensely at you, like they’re concentrating on your every word, you might need to talk to a professional.
• TV, Music, and Computer Turned Up Loud — Another thing to look out for is the volume on your child’s electronic devices. In the past, they might’ve listened to the TV or their music at acceptable sound levels. But if you notice the volume levels are much louder now, that could be a direct result of hearing loss.

If you believe your child needs help with their hearing, or other common ENT issues like hypernasal speech treatment, contact our Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists today.