Recognising hearing problems in babies and children – A guide for new parents

1 in 4 people including children are projected to have hearing difficulties by 2050. Yes, you read it
right. In India, there are approximately 5-6 infants and children with hearing issues which may increase in huge numbers in the coming years. This may be due to developmental issues during foetal growth (when the baby is in the womb), or may be acquired after birth.

There is an urgent need to spread awareness about hearing loss, especially in infants and children.Recognising the early signs and symptoms of hearing loss may help in early management of hearing difficulties and minimise complications arising from profound hearing loss. This blog will help parents understand how to identify hearing difficulties in their babies and children.

Signs of hearing problems in babies

Identifying hearing problems in new born babies and infants may be difficult for parents and family members. One may pass it off as ignorance on the part of the child to listen to his/her elders. But it is recommended to pay close attention to your child’s behaviour and look for the following signs and symptoms to avoid complete hearing loss.

• Your baby does not jerk or startle on hearing a loud sound/noise.
• Baby does not start babbling sounds or say words like mama, dada by 1 year of age.
• He/she may not respond to your calls but responds when he/she sees you or any source of light.
• The baby does not turn around on hearing his/her name being called out even after 6 months of age.
• Your baby may also show selective hearing capability. For example, your baby may hear loud sounds/noises but may not respond to soft calls.

Signs of hearing problems in children

Hearing problems in children appear due to progressive diseases in childhood or as a result of trauma. Some children may inform their parents about the hearing difficulty but some may not. As a parent you may need to recognise signs and symptoms like:

• Your child may have difficulty in speech or communicating.
• He/she may not be able to follow directions or instructions.
• You may find your child repeatedly using ‘Huh’ during conversations.
• Your child may turn up the TV volume too high.

Hearing difficulties in babies and children can be identified and managed with prompt alertness towards a child’s behaviour. If you do identify any of the above signs in your child, meet our experts for further medical care.

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Ear and hearing care for all

Hearing is an important sense that needs to be preserved for optimal development of the child. Many people in our surrounding communities are not aware about hearing difficulties in their children or may not have access for the same. On account of this, 3rd March 2023 is being celebrated as the World Hearing Day with the theme, “Ear and Hearing Care for all”. Let us come forward and help spread awareness about hearing difficulties.

Our Best ENT specialist at Apollo hospital Navi Mumbai