Can Your Child Hear You?

How do you know your child has a hearing loss and what can you do about it? If your child responds to you only some of the time, he or she may have a hearing loss. Here are 7 other signs to look for:

  1. Your child consistently aks to turn the TV volume up.
  2. Your child asks “What?” more often.
  3. While listening, your child leans one ear forward or complains that he can only hear out of his “good ear.”
  4. Your child’s teacher notes he or she is not participating as often in school activities and does not seem to respond as well in the classroom.
  5. Your child tells you, “I didn’t hear you.” Because many parents assume that their children are not paying attention, hearing loss may not be considered.
  6. Your child begins to speak more loudly.
  7. Your child seems to be concentrating instensly on what your saying or looks like he or she is reading your lips.

If you suspect that your child may have a hearing loss, you should contact your primary care physician or ear, nose and throat doctor because hearing loss may be indicative of an ear infection. If it is determined that your child has a hearing loss, your doctor will most likely recommend that you meet with an audiologist.

If an audiologist recommends hearing aids for your child, it’s crucial that the hearing aids are worn continuously, especially if the child is very young. Here’s why:

From birth to three years, your child’s brain is in a period of rapid development. Consistent sound input is critical for developing normal brain pathways for hearing, speech, and language.

Early listening and speaking are vital to language development. But language is not taught it to children the way one would teach a school subject. Instead, language is caught. Children “learn” words by listening to spoken syntax and sentence structure and figuring out the intended meaning of what is being communicated. For children with hearing loss, incidental learning is supplemented by speech and language therapy that will focus on attending to this auditory input.

Consistent hearing is essential for children, especially for infants and toddlers, in the initial stages of bonding with others. It serves to build trust and allows for the feeling of a predictable, consistent world.

If you have any concerns about your hearing whatsoever call Dr. Joe Griffith today at (504) 738-4557 or visit to schedule your appointment. Dr. Griffith is a certified audiologist who will address your concerns and ensure you get the hearing help you deserve.