Your Baby's Hearing

All aspects of your child's first few years of life are critical to his or her development. Hearing plays an important role in your child's language, speech and social development.

The Importance of Hearing How can Hearing Loss Happen? What Parents Can Do Warning Signs Milestones Checklist

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The Importance of Hearing

Speech and language skills come from your child’s hearing ability. If a child loses some or all of her hearing, this will reflect in her use of language. For example, a young child builds their vocabulary by listening to others say different words. If the child misses a lot of words because they cannot hear them, the number of words they will learn to say may be behind. Your child’s speech is also at risk while experiencing hearing loss since he or she may not learn to say words properly if they are not able to hear exactly how the word is pronounced.

Social development relies upon hearing ability because hearing loss at a young age can cause important experiences to be missed.

For example, the ways people usually act in certain social situations are called social "norms". Children pick up on these "norms" and use these social skills throughout their whole lives. When children miss out on picking up typical behaviours in social situations, their social development is being affected.

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How Can it Happen?

Because part of your child’s development relies upon their hearing ability, it is important to recognize hearing loss as soon as possible to lessen or prevent problems that are caused by hearing loss. Most hearing losses in young children are temporary, or medically treatable. Some conditions are likely to cause a hearing problem that comes and goes, such as:

ear infections

middle ear fluid

short-term noise exposure

Some children will have permanent hearing loss. Certain factors in a child’s history may increase the chance of permanent hearing loss, such as:

• a family member with permanent hearing loss since childhood
• very low birthweight - less than three pounds
• serious infection present at birth (such as toxoplasmosis, herpes, cytomegalovirus or rubella)
• baby required neonatal intensive care (NICU)
• unusual appearance of the baby's head, face or ears
• baby required exchange blood transfusion
• serious injury to the head
• disorder of the brain or nervous system
• too much noise exposure
• certain childhood illnesses like measles, mumps, or meningitis
• certain medicines used to treat serious illness

The earlier a hearing loss is detected, the earlier help can be provided.

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What Parents Can Do

To try to avoid developmental problems while your child has temporary hearing loss, here are actions that you can take as a parent.

Have the child close to the person speaking. Move away from background noise. Make sure your child can see your face. Get the child's attention before speaking. Speak clearly using natural rhythm. Repeat important words. Check to see if your child understands.

For permanent hearing loss, there is help. Contact your local physician or audiologist.

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Warning Signs

Since babies can't tell you about hearing problems, parents, need to watch for warning signs. If you start noticing any of these warning signs in your child, contact your physician or an Audiologist as soon as possible.
It is never too early to ask for a hearing test.

stops early babble experiences fluid drain from ears frequently pulls at his or her ears with fever or crankiness frequently gets colds and ear infections does not understand someone unless he or she is facing them speaks loudly or turns up the volume on the the T.V. or radio so it is disturbing other listeners does not say single words by 12 months does not respond when called needs things to be repeated

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Milestones Checklist

As your child develops, he or she will reach milestones in which you can follow along to measure development concerning their hearing ability. Use this Healthy Hearing Milestone Checklist and if your child does not do some of the things, have his or her hearing checked.

Fore information on your child's hearing, visit:

British Columbia Early Hearing Program

Effects of Hearing Loss on Development

How do we Hear?

Noisy Toys, Dangerous Play

Speak, Read, Succeed Interactive Checklist

Your Chlid's Hearing BC Health Files

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