What to do?
Your child may mishear things you say to them or not respond when you talk to them. You may notice that your child has become quieter than usual or withdrawn.
Alternatively, you may be feeling that your child is becoming frustrated and have noticed changes in their behaviour. Your child's speech may not be as clear as it was or you may be worried that your child is not yet talking, or they may be finding things difficult at school and may be falling behind with their work.
There are many reasons that your child may have problems with hearing; they are not all permanent. Your child may have glue ear, which is when the middle section of your child's ear behind the eardrum becomes filled with fluid, making it difficult for sound to pass through. This is a very common problem for children and can occur many times throughout childhood. See the NHS website for more information
Your health visitor is available until your child reaches the end of reception year at school. They will help you to understand the issues and help you to decide the best course of action.
If your child goes to a nursery or a school, talk to someone there who knows them well and see if they have concerns.
All nurseries and schools will have a SENDCo, this is the person in the setting who works with and helps children who require additional support. Ask your child's school or nursery who this person is and talk to them about your concerns.
In the first instance you should speak to your health visitor or GP. A hearing test is the best way to diagnose hearing loss and it’s severity. No child is too young or old to have a hearing test! Although hearing loss can be harder to spot in babies there is a useful checklist that can help you notice the signs.
