Your Child's Hearing Development Checklist (Silence Isn't Always Golden)
Infants and young children with hearing problems can have difficulty developing speech and language.
Some babies are born with hearing problems. Other children are born with normal hearing and begin to have hearing problems as they grow older.
You can help your child's doctor to decide if your child's hearing needs to be tested. Hearing problems can be temporary or permanent. Hearing problems can happen because of ear infections, injuries, or diseases.
If your child doesn't hear well or speak clearly, take action.
Read the hearing checklist. Find your child's age. Check yes or no for every item. After you complete the checklist, show it to your child's doctor. Ask the doctor questions. Talk about the items checked no. If you think your child has trouble hearing, tell the doctor right away.
Your baby's hearing checklist:
Birth to 3 Months
3 to 6 Months
6 to 10 Months
10 to 15 Months
15 to 18 Months
18 to 24 Months
24 to 36 Months
Talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if you think your child has a hearing problem.
Some words the doctor may use:
audiogram: a chart that shows how well a person can hear.
audiologist: a person who tests and measures hearing.
earache: pain in the ears caused by infections or growths.
otitis media: infection of the middle ear.
otolaryngologist: a doctor who treats diseases and problems of the ear, nose, and throat.
otologist: a doctor who treats diseases of the ear.
pediatrician: a doctor who takes care of infants and children and who treats their diseases.
speech/language pathologist: a person who helps people improve speech, language, and voice.
Notes
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Also available in Spanish and Vietnamese (PDF; get Adobe Reader)
NIH Pub. No. 95-4040 1995
For more information, contact the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse.
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