As parents, it’s not always the case that we can protect our child from experiencing conditions that they develop through no fault of their own. However, we can help them manage, mitigate and feel confident in it. This requires excellent care, which is the responsibility of any parent. The sooner a child can learn to care for their condition, the sooner they can accept and live a great life regardless.

It may be, for instance, that your child needs a hearing test. Of course, the signs of hearing loss aren’t always as obvious, which is why it’s referred to as a hidden disability. That said, with modern technological development in treating hearing loss, there is absolutely no reason why it has to define a life.

However, none of that treatment can begin without care, attention and the willingness to help our child make that first step in the right direction.

But what is that step? Well, it might seem as though visiting an audiologist is a great place to start and it certainly should be your first call. Before that happens, though, it’s important for us to recognize the signs of hearing loss or rather, the signs that your child may need a hearing test to confirm that. After all, diagnosing anything without the aid of a medical professional is ill-advised at best.

The four signs your child needs a hearing test are:

Fluctuating Responses

If you notice that you have to continually call your child before they respond, or that they only seem to respond to you half the time, it might be that they have hearing difficulties. It is tempting to become frustrated when your child ignores you and seems to be doing it out of stubbornness, especially if you’ve had to discipline them during the day, but it’s true that limited responses aren’t always a sign of truant behavior.

It might be that when called from another room, your child rarely answers or comes to see what you need. If you have any doubt at all, it’s best to visit an audiologist.

Slow speech development

Children learn how to speak through hearing others speaking, which is why children raised in bilingual households will often pick up both languages without much in the way of effort and certainly not by studying textbooks or visiting night classes after school. While slow or slurred speech development isn’t always the sign of limited hearing, it may be and deserves to either be confirmed or ruled out as a symptom.

Your Child Seems Like They’re Not Paying Attention

If you notice that your child seems to just straight up ignore you, it might not be that they’re glued to their video game or that they’re giving you the silent treatment. Furthermore, it might be that they seem to give responses to questions that weren’t entirely matched to what you asked, or perhaps they seem to respond with short, quite terse responses despite not being in a visibly bad mood at all. Again, it’s hard to do as a parent, but it’s always best not to assume that your child is acting up unless they have a real reason to be doing so. Visiting an audiologist can help you understand the reason.

They’re Struggling in School or Having Trouble Following Direction

Hearing loss can directly affect confidence, and at school, that can imply lower or dropping grades. It might be that their teacher reports their inability to properly follow directions in class, or applying themselves to schoolwork that has little resemblance to the task at hand.

Not all children are confident asking teachers to repeat themselves, and so they may simply feel that the class is not for them or that the teacher isn’t being nice or supportive. Sometimes, this may showcase a learning disability or another developmental disorder, but likewise, it could also suggest that another issue is at play here. Again, a quick yet thorough diagnosis can help you know exactly what the problem may be.

So, Where Do You Go from Here?

It’s a great idea to visit a reliable audiologist as soon as you can. Ascent Audiology & Hearing are well geared to help you understand your child’s particular hearing capabilities, and what may be required to help them, including the use of hearing aids. You can call us today at 941-866-6253 or 941-866-6216.