I went to a friend’s house recently who has a toddler. On getting there, my friend beckon on her son to come say hello to me who was playing in the other room and there was no response. She called on him repeatedly and he answered at the fourth calling yelling.
The mother was clearly angry that he is fond of not answering whenever she calls him, that he is always engrossed with his toys. The poor boy insisted he never heard his mom reach out to him severally that he only heard her call him faintly.
I was shocked too because my friend was literally screaming on top of her lungs and the boy was just in the room across the sitting room. I suggested she should take him for a medical ear check-up, she didn’t want to believe he is having hearing problems. I assured her it could just be ear wax blockage, it does not necessarily have to be a major problem.
If you have a similar situation, here are some of the pointers of hearing problems in children
Frequent “what did you say”
If your child is always complaining of not hearing what people say and always ask for you to repeat yourself, then you child might be having a hearing problem.
Are the words, “what?” and “huh?” being used quite frequently in a day by your child when someone talks to her? This may be a sign that she has difficulty hearing them.
She herself might notice that she struggles to understand what people are saying to her, speaks differently from other children her age, has problems articulating certain words, or constantly misunderstands questions and instructions given to her.
If you suspect that your child may have a hearing impairment, it is crucial that you schedule an appointment with an ear doctor.
Poor Performance In School
It is not every child that is poorly performed in school that is a dullard, such child might be having an impairment that is causing the bad performances.
Prolonged Ear Infections
Ear infections are quite common during childhood and many kids will have at least one acute ear infection by the time they turn one year old.
Sometimes children might also get fluid in their ear mostly through bathing but won’t necessarily have an infection. However, if fluids are present for a prolonged time, it can potentially lead to hearing loss.
Although ear infections can be treated with antibiotics, or the fluid will eventually drain away on its own, it is best to have follow-up appointments with your child’s doctor to monitor the situation.
Talks Loudly
A child with a hearing problem tends to talk more loudly because he/she thinks everyone is having the same hearing problem as him, so such child tends to speak too loudly to be heard. However, if this occurs often and it seems like your child is unable to control her volume, then it might be a good idea to schedule a hearing evaluation to rule out any hearing problems.
Listening To Loud Music
Does your child like to listen to loud music on his headphones or stand close to the television while watching his favorite cartoon with the volume on full blast? With each exposure to loud music, the tiny hair cells or nerve endings in the inner ear may become damaged.
If everyone else in the family finds the volume of the television or media device to be quite loud, yet your child still prefers it at that level, then it may be a sign of possible hearing loss.
No Reaction To Loud Noise
If out of nowhere a truck sounds its horn, does your child get stlarted or automatically reacts by turning towards the direction of the loud noise? If No, then you child is likely to be having a hearing problem, take him/her for a medical check-up.
Remember that it is important for parents to watch for these warning signs and bring your child to seek professional medical help should you suspect he has hearing problems, as an early intervention will help him in the long-run.
Comments
Comments
