The key to addressing deafness in children is early detection. Evidence shows that deaf children who receive early support have better communication and overall development, since a child’s hearing loss can affect their development as a whole.
Early detection programmes for childhood deafness have come a long way, but even so, the people closest to the child can still be a huge help. That’s why today we’re sharing a list of signs that could be a warning sign to see an ENT doctor.
| Child’s age | Possible signs of deafness |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | When exposed to a sound, the child shows no reflex responses, such as blinking. Doesn’t startle at loud noises. Doesn’t calm down when hearing their mother’s voice. |
| 3 to 6 months | Doesn’t turn their eyes or head to find where sounds are coming from. Doesn’t engage with noise-making toys. Remains indifferent to familiar sounds, including their mother’s voice. |
| 6 to 9 months | When trying to get attention, doesn’t vocalise, but instead bangs objects whose vibration when dropped they associate with their own presence. Doesn’t show attention when called by name. Doesn’t play with their own sounds or vocalisations, repeating them or imitating those of others. Doesn’t show a preference for sound-making or musical toys over those without this feature. Doesn’t wave back when told “bye-bye”. Does orient towards familiar sounds, but only when these are necessarily quite loud. |
| 9 to 12 months | Doesn’t recognise when “dad” and “mum” are named. Uses signals and gestures to make themselves understood. Doesn’t understand when called by name. Doesn’t understand familiar words |
| 12 to 18 months | Doesn’t respond differently to different sounds. Doesn’t say basic words like “dad” and “mum” with meaning. Although the child makes sounds, they don’t seem to enjoy listening to or making them. Their words aren’t understandable. Uses gestures and signs to make themselves understood. Doesn’t respond even when called by name. |
| 18 to 24 months | Doesn’t pay attention when read to. Still doesn’t understand simple verbal instructions unless accompanied by gestures. Doesn’t know their own name. Doesn’t form two-word phrases. Doesn’t identify parts of the body. |
| 2 to 3 years | Their words still aren’t understandable. Vocabulary hasn’t increased. Doesn’t repeat phrases, or isn’t able to form even two-word phrases. Doesn’t answer simple questions |
| 3 to 4 years | What they say isn’t clearly understood. Can’t recount what’s happened to them, and still isn’t able to hold a simple conversation with another person. Doesn’t follow two sequenced instructions. Isn’t able to sing or hum. Falls behind their peers at school |
| 4 to 5 years | Doesn’t hold conversations with other children. Doesn’t show mature language (their speech is only understood by those closest to them) and doesn’t use it effectively. |
| 5 to 6 years | Their language level is well below that of their peers. Gets distracted easily, due to attention difficulties. Doesn’t respond in noisy environments. Has significant difficulties learning to read and write. |
What to do when possible deafness is detected in a child
The first thing to be clear about is that a child’s deafness must be officially confirmed by an ENT doctor, and once confirmed, childhood deafness needs to be addressed with an interdisciplinary approach.
The diagram below, proposed by FIAPAS (the Spanish Confederation of Families of Deaf People), sets out the roles of each of the people involved in addressing childhood deafness, with the main people being: the ENT doctor, the speech and language therapist, the hearing care specialist, teachers, the school’s support team, and the family.
References
- Hearing disability resource guide, Castilla-La Mancha (Spain).
- Ceisal
- FIAPAS
Frequently asked questions
Early signs can include a baby not reacting to loud sounds, not turning their head towards a sound, or not settling at the sound of their parents’ voice. It can also be a concern if they haven’t started babbling by 4 to 6 months.
If your child doesn’t respond to sounds, has speech delays, doesn’t follow simple instructions, or shows a lack of attention, they could have hearing loss. An ENT doctor can carry out specific tests to assess their hearing.
The most common are the newborn hearing screening, otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, and auditory evoked potentials. These tests can detect hearing loss in children from a very early age.
Deafness can be detected from birth through newborn hearing screening tests. However, it’s important to stay alert to signs of hearing loss as the child grows, especially if there’s a family history.
Yes. Hearing is essential for a child to learn to speak and communicate. If they don’t hear well, they may struggle to build vocabulary, pronounce words, or form sentences correctly.
If you suspect your child may be deaf, it’s essential to see a paediatrician or ENT doctor as soon as possible. An early diagnosis allows treatments and therapies to begin that significantly improve the child’s development.
It depends on the cause. Some temporary hearing loss, such as that caused by infections or earwax build-up, can be treated. Others, such as sensorineural hearing loss, may require hearing aids or cochlear implants.
