According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hearing loss affects approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18. Most children have their hearing evaluated after birth or in the first few years to determine any congenital conditions.

However, hearing loss is also caused by things like infections, trauma, and damaging noise levels, and the problem may not emerge until later in childhood.

Hearing tests in older children are usually done at ages 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18, and at any other time if there's a concern. Signs of hearing difficulty or loss in a child can include: limited, poor, or no speech; frequently inattentive; difficulty learning; often increases the volume on the TV; repeated ear infections; and failing to respond to conversation-level speech, or answering inappropriately to a spoken question.

"Hearing difficulty or loss can greatly impact children's performance in school and their ability to interact with peers," says Max April, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center. "Monitoring a child's hearing ability on a consistent basis can help a parent take action early if an issue should arise."

There are several methods of testing a child's hearing, Dr. April suggests talking with the child before the hearing exam so he/she knows what to expect.

If the hearing test reveals a problem, it is important to have the child's hearing difficulty evaluated by a physician who can rule out medical problems that may be causing the hearing loss, such as otitis media (ear infection), fluid in the ear, excessive earwax, or an inner ear hearing loss. Many treatment options are available and your physician will be able to determine the right therapy.

For more information on your child's hearing health, visit the Academy's consumer website at http://www.entnet.org/kidsent/.

About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's mission: "Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care."

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