Hearing loss or deafness in children is more common than people realise, in fact, according to the National Deaf Children's Society four babies are born deaf every day. But not every child is born deaf, and some can develop it after birth due to an infection, birth complications, head injury, loud noise, or perforation of the eardrum.
Here are five signs that can indicate your toddler has a hearing difficulty:
Keep or need the volume turned up high
If your little one insists on having the volume turned up really loud on the TV or the radio, it could be an indicator that they can’t hear. While not necessarily a hearing issue, it could be a sign of one.
Don’t hear you when you call them
Just like adults, some kids have selective hearing so don’t be overly concerned if they don’t answer you all the time. But if they genuinely never seem to hear you, you should take them to the doctor for an assessment.
Speaks slightly differently
It can be hard to determine if your toddler has a hearing issue simply by the way they speak. For a long time, it can be difficult to understand what they are trying to say anyway, however, if they sound a little bit different from other kids their own age you should be slightly concerned.
Points rather than answers
Children who find it hard to hear will communicate in a different way, sometimes this will be by pointing at things rather than using words. Watch out for excessive pointing or answering you by showing you things rather than saying them.
Not interested in being read to
Most kids love being read to at night, but if your little one seems disinterested or unable to focus on your words, it could be down to the fact that they can’t hear you properly.
If you do suspect your toddler is having trouble hearing, it is important you take them to their GP. Listening is an important part of learning so it is vital you take steps to teach them accordingly if they are struggling to hear.
