Most states now have mandatory hearing
tests while a newborn is still in the hospital. Still, one in
four hearing-impaired children slips by the safeguards and isn't
diagnosed by age 3, according to the National Foundation for the
Deaf.
The reason: A lot of parents don't know the signs of
hearing loss. Hearing loss also can accompany other disabilities
and could be overlooked.
"The first three years
of a child’s life are the most important in the development
of communication, so parents and pediatricians should know how to
detect hearing problems at various stages during that time,"
says Dr. Amanda Lovering, Audiology Services coordinator at
Children’s Medical Center.
Hearing loss can
happen when a child can't detect certain frequencies, or when he can't
hear at a low volume. Early detection and treatment can
head off problems later.
Birth to 3 months
At
birth to 3 months, does your child:
- React to loud
sounds?
- Seem soothed by your voice?
- Turn his
or her head when you speak?
- Smile when spoken
to?
3 to 6 months
At 3 to 6 months, does your
child:
- Look up or turn toward a new
sound?
- Respond to "no" and changes in tone of
voice?
- Imitate his or her own voice?
- Enjoy rattles and other
sound-making toys?
- Begin to repeat sounds (like
"ooh" and "ba-ba")?
- Seem scared by loud
sounds?
6 to 10 months
At 6 to 10 months,
does your child:
- Respond to his or her name, a
ringing phone, or someone's soft voice?
- Know words for
common things ("cup," "shoe") and sayings
("bye-bye")?
- Make babbling sounds, even if
alone?
- Start to respond to requests such as "come
here"?
- Look at things or pictures when someone talks
about them?
10 to 15 months
At 10 to 15
months, does your child:
- Play with his or her voice,
enjoying the sound and feel of it?
- Point to or look at
familiar objects or people when asked to do so?
- Imitate
simple words and sounds, and use a few single words
meaningfully?
- Enjoy games like peek-a-boo?
15 to 18
months
At 15 to 18 months, does your child:
- Follow simple directions, such as "give me the
ball"?
- Use words he or she has heard often?
- Use
two- to three-word sentences to talk about and ask for
things?
- Know 10 to 20 words?
18 to 24 months
At 18 to 24 months, does your child:
- Understand
simple "yes-no" questions such as "Are you
hungry?"
- Understand simple phrases ("in the
cup," "on the table")?
- Enjoy hearing you
read to him or her?
- Point to pictures when
asked?
24 to 36 months
At 24 to 36 months, does your
child:
- Understand "not now" and "no
more"?
- Choose things by size (big,
little)?
- Follow simple directions such as "get your shoes"
and "drink your milk"?
- Understand many
action words ("run," "jump")?
If
you answered no to items at any age, talk with your pediatrician,
says Dr. Lovering. "Even if it's not a hearing loss issue,
there may be another medical problem that is hindering your child's
language development."
Learn more about hearing
loss in the Children’s Health Library.
