subject: Signs Your Child Should Have A Hearing Test [print this page] Though many doctors will make a recommendation for a hearing test, it is usually the parents that can tell when this is needed. Your doctor will never be able to communicate with your child as well as you do. The doctor only has a limited amount of time to visit with your child. As a result, it is very common for doctors to miss opportunities to catch hearing problems. However, with the help of your awareness, you can often tell when there is a need to have a more formal screening.
Does Your Child Need It?
A child will need a hearing test in many situations. Though this may seem scary at first, it is often best to get your child in for a screening before a possible condition gets worse. What should you see or hear? When should you talk to your doctor about these risks?
If your child is responding to you regularly when you call his or her name, then that is a good thing. A child that does not respond consistently could be unable to hear you. They may only hear parts of sounds, and this warrants gathering more information at a screening.
Does your child have language or speech development issues? In some situations, these could be related specifically to the child's inability to hear correctly. If they cannot hear what is being said around them, it may lead to complications with speech. Some children who cannot hear do not develop the ability to speak at all.
Does your child like to turn the volume up on the television? He or she may ask you to make the music louder or to turn up the volume on their headset. These are all indications that the child may have a hearing problem that needs to be addressed. You should seek help at this point.
The child may be experiencing a problem with the ability to hear if their speech is unclear. There could be a problem if they have to ask for information to be repeated often. In some cases, the child may be unable to follow directions or may seem to be missing clear steps in directions given verbally.
If your child is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to have a formal hearing test conducted. The test will help doctors find out if there is a problem. If the doctors confirm there is a problem, they will be able to offer solutions based on the particular diagnosis. It is critical that you take steps to improve this situation by seeing a doctor.
