Signs of hearing problem?

Dorasmum · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 11:02 PM

I wonder ca n anyone tell my what signs there might be for a hearing problem in a child. DD1 over the last year or so has been asking for things to be repeated a lot, is always yelling and gets upset and frustrated very easily. There could be other reasons to explain these as well. Like the fact that I know I am a bit of a mumbler, and fatigue makes it worse. I used to be a stutterer as a child and I don't hear that I'm mumbling myself, she may be finding it hard to understand me. She has been noticably more hyperactive too, sometimes crazily active. When I say she yells a lot, I mean she will talk in a yelling voice when I am right next to her.

I know I do need to get a check up with dr, it's just that the symptoms I'm mentioning don't seem to be distinct enough to be sure there could be anything wrong. It's like half a dozen little vague things that could equal something.

Anyone with any experience of something like this?

Em

tamarab30 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 08:11 AM

Hi Em - boy you sure she to be going through a lot lately! I have no experience with hearing loss - I do with vision problems though. I knew by the time my youngest was about three months that he could not see a thing, and from memory at his next appointment told the paed what I thought and I had no reasoning for it or explanation as such, so she sent me off to an opthamologist and presto - cortical vision impairment. This wont be the same kind of result I imagine for you, as my son already had well known health problems (cerebral palsy) so any other kind of disability or illness was no shock to anyone (if that makes sense).
Not sure if your bub does have hearing loss - perhaps she could have blocked ears (sorry not an ear expert obviously) but there could be other simple things going on that could be giving her problems. I would definitely get things checked out - it will definitely put your mind at ease one way or another and that is the most important thing. So is early intervention, if your daughter does have hearing loss - there are so many different forms of available therapies that can be of assistance and the early that they are started the more successful they will be.
Gee I've waffled on a bit havent I? Sorry - I recommend getting things checked out - good luck!

**Nyree** · #3 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:32 AM

Does she respond if you call her name or make a noise behind her where she can't see you?

Dorasmum · #4 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 12:53 PM

That's the thing, everytime i think there might be a problem she'll hear something that seems to indicate she is fine. Of course she does have like most 5 year olds, selective hearing....ignores me a lot so its hard to pick if she's doing it on purpose!

She's only ever had one mild ear infection, how would one get blocked ears? and would she show any physical signs of that?

I think I might conduct some tests of my own without her knowing, like you said Nyree, make noises etc She'll think I'm nuts but she may well do already!!

Em

monstermon · #5 (**permalink**) 23-05-2008, 10:18 AM

Hi Em,

I have wondered about my 4 year old's hearing quite a few times, as he seemed to be never be able to hear me when I was talking to him. It would take me several attempts to get his attention and he would often talk at maximum volume as well.. it seems that this is just typical 4 year old behaviour as he had a hearing test yesterday and guess what - perfect hearing....lol!!

Some of what you are describing sounds to me like typical behaviour of a child of that age... They get absorbed in what they are doing, so might take ages to respond to a parent calling for them, or just get so excited about something that they have to tell it *really* loud.... Having said that, trust your instincts! If you have *any* doubts, contact your local - ... not sure what you have where you are. In SA, we have Child and Youth Health. You know the place where you get baby checks done, and vaccinations (if your child is getting them)....?? Ring them, and you can probably arrange a free hearing test. In SA they check all children at 4 yrs and 3 mths (with parents consent, of course) so that hopefully children don't slip through the cracks before they get to school.

I think your own test might be helpful and give you peace of mind, but some children have hearing problems in particular frequency ranges - rather than all, so I still think it would be worth getting a proper test done. Also, apparently another classic symptom of hearing problems is language development. The nurse we saw yesterday didn't think DS had hearing problems from the outset of the session cause he speaks clearly and doens't have any difficulty with pronunication of sounds (well, there are ones that are developmentally normal, and ones that aren't. DS still says 'lellow' for 'yellow' but she said for his age group, that wasn't unusual, so not a sign of any problems.)

Hope you find out soon for sure, to put your mind at rest.

emd · #6 (**permalink**) 23-05-2008, 02:36 PM

Sometimes kids can have a mild ear infection that isn't even picked up til it's resolved itself, so it is quite possible that she could have an issue with her hearing that could be fixed over time. I'd ask for a test - your instinct is that something is not right, so why not check given that it's such an easy test?