Ogden Clinic -
Audiology

Determining if your child has a hearing loss.

The following are factors that can help you determine if your child shows signs of having a hearing loss. Check any that apply.

During Pregnancy
Mother had German Measles, a viral infection or flu
Mother drank alcoholic beverages

My Family
Has one of more individuals with permanent or progressive hearing loss that was present or developed early in life

My Newborn (birth to 28 days of age)
Weighed less than 3.5 pounds at birth
Had an unusual appearance of the face or ears
Was jaundiced (yellow skin) at birth or almost had or did have an exchange blood transfusion.
Was in neonatal intensive care unit for more than two days
Received an antibiotic medication given through a needle in a vein.
Had meningitis

My infant (29 days to Age Two Years)
Received an antibiotic medication given through a needle into a vein
Had meningitis
Has a neurological disorder
Had a serious injury with a fracture of the skull, with or without bleeding from the ear

Review your child's reaction to noise according to your child's age

Birth to 6 months
Does not startle, move, cry, or react in any way to unexpected loud noises
Is not awakened by loud noises
Does not freely imitate sound
Cannot be soothed by voice
Does not turn her/his head in the direction of my voice

6 through 12 months

Does not point to familiar persons or objects when asked
Does not babble, or babbling has stopped
By twelve months is not understanding simple phrases such as "clap hands", or "wave bye-bye" by listening alone

13 months through two years

Does not accurately turn in the direction of a soft voice on the first call
Is not alert to environmental sounds
Does not respond on first call
Does not respond to sound or does not locate sound source
Does not begin to imitate and use simple words for familiar people and things around the house
Does not sound like or use speech like other children of similar age
Does not listen to TV at normal volume
Does not show consistent growth in the understanding and the use of words to communicate

If you did not check any of these warning items listed above, but suspect that your child is not hearing normally, even if your child's doctor is not concerned, have your child's hearing tested by an audiologist, and when appropriate, his speech evaluated by a speech and language pathologist. The test can not hurt your child, it can only help to identify an issue that could affect speech and language development.