There are many reasons that a child made need to have a hearing test:  delayed speech, delayed developmental, craniofacial abnormalities, autism,  or a suspected auditory processing deficit are just a few.

Hearing science professionals estimate that 1 baby in 300 is born with some degree of hearing loss.  The cause of your child’s hearing loss will be one of the following:

1. Genetic – 50% of cases
2. Non-genetic due to illness or trauma – 25% of cases
3. Unknown – 25% of cases

Babies and infants with normal hearing usually respond according to the list below. If your baby is not responding as expected or they are delayed in their development, an assessment of their hearing should be considered.

• Newborn babies – newborn babies will generally ‘startle’ or jump in response to sudden loud noises. They will also sometimes turn their head in the direction of sound.
• By 2 months – your baby’s hearing has improved. They should now be able to hear sounds in different pitches, intensities and tones.
• By 3-4 months – your baby starts to recognise your voice (parents) and can vocalise consonant sounds (M, K, G, P and B) and some vowel sounds.
• By 5-6 months – your baby may start giggling at this point. Babbling sounds start sounding more like words.
• By 8-9 months – your baby starts to understand the relationship between words and gestures.
• By 11-12 months – your baby is now starting to understand simple words like “milk” “bottle” or “bath”. They should also be starting to say words like “Mama” or “bye-bye”.

We won’t know the answer to this question until we complete a through assessment of your child’s hearing, but below are a few common causes of temporary hearing loss in children.

Infection – This type of temporary hearing loss in most common in children who attend day care. An infection can sometimes cause fluid to accumulate in the middle ear, restricting movement of the eardrum and causing hearing loss. Once the infection and fluids subside, so does the hearing loss.

Blockage  – It is not uncommon for excess earwax buildup to cause temporary hearing loss in children. Although this is true, it is still important to remember safe earwax removal techniques and stay away from Q-tips. The safest way to remove excess earwax from a toddler or child’s ear is to have it professionally removed by a specialist.

Trauma – If a child hits their head, they can suffer temporary hearing loss from blood rushing to their middle ear. If this happens, take your child into the doctor – because this may be a sign of a more serious type of hearing loss. 

Swimmer’s Ear – The common condition we associate with children and summers does have the capacity to cause temporary hearing loss. Swimmer’s ear causes fluid buildup and swelling that can limit the sounds that reach the eardrums. The hearing loss usually clears up along with the infection in about a week.

Yes your child’s hearing should be protected from excessive amounts of noise. Here are a few tips to help your children learn to use hearing protection.

• Set clear rules for when hearing protectors should be worn. Tell your children that you expect them to wear hearing protectors in noisy areas, even when you aren’t there to supervise. For example, is your child in the school band or going riding on a dirt bike? It’s time for your child to put on hearing protectors.
• Shop for hearing protectors with them. Discuss with your children whether they would rather wear earplugs that can be hidden by hair or a hat, or make a fashion statement with more noticeable hearing protectors. Many colorful and comfortable styles of hearing protectors are available in stores and online.
• Choose hearing protectors that fit in with your children’s daily activities. If your children play in a band or orchestra, earplugs can help protect their hearing. Special musicians’ earplugs (often called high fidelity ear plugs) are available so that your children can hear instruments clearly, but at a softer level. You can also find hearing protectors designed specifically for hunting or shooting sports.
• Make sure hearing protection is within reach. Keep hearing protection devices in areas that are within easy reach of your children. Hearing protectors that are hidden in a drawer and aren’t worn will not do any good.

When to use hearing protection.

Hearing protectors limit the level of sound. They do not block out all noise—they just make noise softer. Use hearing protectors when you or your children are exposed to noise that is too loud or lasts too long. The louder the sound, the quicker hearing damage will occur.