Testing your child's hearing...

Children of any age, even babies, can have their hearing assessed by an Audiologist. Concerned parents should have their children's hearing tested early, for three reasons:

• Some types of hearing loss may require medical treatment.
• Hearing aids, if necessary, can be fitted to infants and young children - the earlier the better.
• Early attention can reduce or prevent speech, language, educational, and/or social delays in children.

Your child may need a hearing test if...

• childhood hearing loss runs in your family
• the mother had German measles, the flu, or a viral infection during pregnancy
• your child was in a neonatal intensive care unit for more than two days
• your child had bacterial meningitis
• your child's hearing changes
• your child has repeated ear infections
• you have concerns about your child's hearing

Childhood hearing loss...

Hearing loss may be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss may require medical attention. Permanent hearing loss can often be helped by consulting with an Audiologist.

Temporary hearing loss happens in the outer or middle ear and may be caused by:

• wax blockage in the outer ear
• foreign objects, such as crayons, in the outer ear
• perforation of the eardrum
• fluid in the middle ear

Permanent hearing loss happens in the inner ear or in the nerve that takes sounds from the ear to the brain. This can be due to:

• noise damage from loud sounds
• severe head injuries
• some illnesses such as bacterial meningitis or illnesses accompanied by very high fevers