Over 300 UK practices

Trustpilot

Payment Plans Available

0800 52 00 546

Home ⟩ Hearing Health ⟩ Hearing Loss in Children

Hearing Loss in Children

Author thumbnail Laura James  |  Published 24 September 2024  | Updated 03 October 2024  | 8 mins read

A child with a hearing impairment, standing against a blue background.

Our hearing plays an important role in our development as children. It helps with communication, social skills, and academic performance. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on your children’s hearing ability and have any suspected hearing loss inspected. Some children are born with hearing loss (congenital), and others develop it over time (acquired) with varying levels of severity. Read on to learn more about hearing loss in children, the diagnosis process, and how it can be treated. 

Hearing loss in children

Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear – the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing nerve, and auditory system –  does not work normally. It can be measured as mild, moderate, severe or profound, and there are 3 different types: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. Some types of hearing loss are temporary, but others are permanent. Children’s hearing loss is more likely to be asymmetrical than adults’, meaning the degree and configuration of hearing loss are different in each ear.

What causes hearing loss in children?

Many factors can cause or contribute to hearing loss in children. These range from congenital causes present at birth to acquired causes that can happen as they grow up, and both types can be permanent.

Congenital causes

Congenital causes of hearing loss include any causes that are present at birth. These can include genetic factors, prenatal infections such as rubella or cytomegalovirus, and complications during birth such as low birth weight or lack of oxygen.

Acquired causes

Acquired cases of hearing loss happen after birth and can be caused by ear infections (otitis media), noise exposure, head injuries, certain medications (ototoxic drugs), and other illnesses like meningitis or measles.

How do I know if my child has a hearing loss?

Even if your child is very young, you can still identify signs of hearing loss. If you suspect your child has hearing loss, it’s vital to get them checked by their doctor as soon as possible to ensure they receive treatment and can continue to develop at the same speed as their peers. 

 

A little boy crying and shouting while holding his mother's hand, who is attentively listening to him with a concerned expression.

Signs of hearing loss in infants and toddlers

Young children, such as newborns and infants, typically respond to sounds long before they can communicate through speech. If your baby has hearing loss, you may find that they don’t:

  • Get startled or upset by sudden, loud noises
  • Recognise their parents’ voices by the age of 3 months
  • Seek out sounds by the age of 6 months
  • Imitate simple words and sounds by the age of 12 months
A little girl sitting at her desk in school, looking bored and lost in thought, with her head resting on her hand.

Signs of hearing loss in older children

Common signs of hearing loss in older children include:

  • Experiencing frequent communication breakdowns – Delayed language skills and abnormal speech are common symptoms of hearing loss in children leading to a breakdown in communication skills.
  • Not seeking out where sound is coming from – If your child doesn’t try to seek out sounds like clicking fingers, clapping, or their name, it could be due to hearing loss issues. 
  • Not reacting to loud sounds – Similarly to the above, if your child doesn’t react to loud, sudden sounds that would normally make someone jump, it could be due to hearing loss. 
  • Having problems keeping up at school – Issues keeping up with school and their peers indicate that your child might not have a normal range of hearing, as it can impact their comprehension and attention span in lessons. 
  • Insisting on listening to devices at a high volume – Just as with adults, if your child insists on listening to their devices, television, or radio at a very loud volume, it could be due to issues with their hearing. 
  • Not paying attention to conversations – If your child doesn’t pay attention to conversations that include them, it’s time to take them for a hearing test.

How is children’s hearing loss diagnosed?

Screening for hearing loss is an essential part of children’s healthcare. Hearing tests are carried out soon after birth and should continue regularly throughout childhood – and more frequently if your child is found to have hearing loss. Children’s hearing loss is diagnosed through a few different tests depending on their age. 

  • Newborn Hearing Screening: Newborn babies can be screened for any potential hearing problems using 2 quick and painless tests that are normally conducted before you leave the hospital. The newborn hearing test is called the automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) test and consists of a soft-tipped earpiece placed in your baby’s ear that plays gentle clicking sounds. If the test is inconclusive, another test is called the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) test. The AABR test involves placing 3 small sensors on your baby’s head and neck. Soft headphones are placed over your baby’s ears, and gentle clicking sounds are played.
  • Play Audiometry: Young children between 1.5 and 5 years old may be offered a play audiometry test. During the test, your child will be asked to perform a simple task when they hear a sound played over headphones or a speaker. The volume and pitch of the sound will be varied to determine the limits of your child’s hearing. 
  • Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA): VRA is a test for children between 6 months and 2.5 years old. The test will consist of your baby being taught to link certain sounds to a visual reward. Once they’ve learnt to associate the sound with the reward, the volume and pitch of the sound will be varied to determine the limits of their hearing.
  • Pure Tone Audiometry: This test is used for older children to measure hearing sensitivity across different pitches and volumes. It is sometimes called the “sweep test” and is similar to a hearing test an adult might have. During a pure tone audiometry test, your child will wear headphones, and a machine will generate sounds at different volumes and frequencies. Your child will be asked to respond when they hear them by pressing a button or raising their hand on the side they hear the sound. The tester will change the level of sound to work out how much they can hear. 

What to do if you’re concerned about your child’s hearing

Early detection and intervention are extremely important when it comes to your child’s hearing. So, if you are concerned about your child’s hearing loss or notice signs of potential hearing loss, take them to an audiologist or ENT specialist.

Can children’s hearing loss be treated?

The treatment for your child’s hearing loss will depend on the cause, and conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are treated differently. Some hearing problems are medically or surgically correctable. Others are treated with hearing aids and speech and language therapy. 

A doctor carefully examining a baby's ear.

The three most common types of treatment are:

  • Grommets for glue ear – Glue ear, also known as otitis media with effusion, happens when fluid collects in your child’s middle ear. It is common in young children and can impact their hearing ability. Their doctor may offer grommets – surgically placed tubes in their eardrums – to help drain excess fluid from their ears. These grommets often fall out on their own as they age, and many children stop getting glue ears as they age.
  • Hearing aids – These electronic or battery-operated devices worn behind the ear that can amplify sound to help people hear. A microphone receives and converts the sound into sound waves, transmitted to the ear via an earpiece. Children can use hearing aids with hearing loss of any level. 
  • Cochlear implant or bone-anchored hearing aid  – A surgically placed appliance that helps to transmit electrical stimulation to the inner ear. Only certain children are candidates for this type of device – mainly only those with severe or profound hearing loss or those who don’t benefit from hearing aids.
  • Training in British Sign Language (BSL) and lip reading.

Can hearing loss in children be prevented?

Some types of hearing loss can not be prevented, such as congenital hearing loss or hearing loss due to a malformation of the ear structure. However, many types of hearing loss can be prevented by ensuring your child receives proper vaccinations to prevent infections, treating ear infections as swiftly as possible, and monitoring the use of ototoxic medication. Additionally, try to prevent them from putting anything in their ears and avoid using cotton buds to clean them to prevent potential damage.

Summary

You might be concerned about hearing loss in children, but thankfully, many cases can be treated to restore your child’s hearing ability. Familiarising yourself with the signs of hearing loss and getting your child tested regularly will help you identify and treat any early signs so that your child’s social and communication skills aren’t negatively impacted.

Please note that we do not offer hearing assessments to anyone under the age of 18.