Our ability to hear may sometimes be taken for granted, but it is plays a significant role a child’s emotional and social development. For this reason, our society has implemented pediatric hearing screenings to identify at-risk infants. However, the possibility for hearing loss may actually be more challenging to detect in older children, who have already developed the capacity for speech.
Often times, early sings of hearing loss are attributed to a “short attention span” or other bad behaviors, but it is important not to overlook these attributes. Early intervention with hearing loss is very important when dealing with pediatric hearing loss. When hearing loss is left untreated, a child’s academic and social performance may experience a decline. If you suspect your child may have some degree of hearing loss, consider the following:
- Do your child’s teachers report that he or she can be unresponsive?
- Have you noticed your child turning his or her head so that sound is directed more at a specific ear?
- Does your child seem to look intently at people’s face or lips when they speak?
- Has your child experienced an unexplained drop in academic performance?
- Has it been more than a year since their last hearing check?
- Does your child seem to speak at a louder volume than others?
- Is your child unresponsive when he or she is facing away from you?
If you child has exhibited any of these behaviors, we recommend seeking a formal diagnosis from a hearing health professional. At Heuser Health Institute, we provide a range of pediatric services and treatments, including:
- In-home assessments
- Speech-language therapy
- The most advanced audiology treatments and hearing aids in Louisville
- Developmental intervention
Our team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of both pediatric and adult hearing loss. To find the latest treatments from a range of hearing aid manufacturers—including ReSound hearing aids, Oticon hearing aids and Phonak hearing aids—call our team today!