Signs of Hearing Loss

Adults
Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, yet often individuals are completely unaware of any hearing difficulties. This is largely due to the slow progression of most hearing losses, as well as the invisible nature of the hearing loss.

How do you know if you have a hearing loss?
The best way to determine if you have a hearing loss is to schedule an appointment for an audiological evaluation. But there are many early warning signs that may suggest you have a hearing loss. Your answers to the following questions may help:

  • Do you hear but not understand what people are saying?
  • Do you frequently ask people to repeat what they have said?
  • Do you sometimes respond incorrectly, discovering later that you misunderstood the question?
  • Do you have difficulty hearing when people are not facing you?
  • Do you prefer the television volume louder than other people in the room?
  • Do you have difficulty hearing on the telephone?
  • Do you avoid noisy social situations because you cannot hear?
  • Do you experience ringing in one or both ears?
  • Do you often feel people mumble or do not speak distinctly?
  • Do you experience difficulty hearing in particular situations ( i.e. church, synagogue, meetings, bridge or bingo games, etc.) especially when background noise is present?

If you answered 'yes' to any one of these questions, you may have a hearing loss. Everyone, including individuals with normal hearing, experiences occasional difficulty hearing. But when difficulties occur frequently, it's time to seek help. Call your audiologist and request a hearing evaluation.

 

Children
Warning signs of hearing loss in children are much different than in adults. Although older children can often tell you when they are unable to hear well, young children may not show obvious symptoms. In fact, it is not uncommon to mistake hearing loss in children for other problems, such as learning disabilities and attention problems. While these conditions may exist together, it is important to rule out hearing loss whenever a child does not follow normal developmental milestones, especially for speech, language and hearing.

How do you know if your child needs a hearing evaluation?
A hearing evaluation is recommended if you answer 'yes' to any of the following questions:

  • Does your child say "what?" or "huh?" often?
  • Does your child have difficulty following directions?
  • Does your child have difficulty paying attention, especially in school?
  • Does your child sit close to the TV or turn the volume up loud?
  • Does your child switch ears when talking on the telephone?
  • Does your child have difficulty understanding when someone is talking to him/her from another room?
  • Does your child watch the face of the speaker very intently?
  • Has your child had repeated ear infections?

Additionally, because birth to 3 years of age is an especially critical period for speech and language development, early identification of hearing loss is very important. The table below lists normal developmental milestones for hearing and speech according to the American Speech Language Hearing Association. If your child does not fit into the appropriate range according to his/her age, a hearing evaluation is recommended.

NORMAL HEARING DEVELOPMENT

Birth

  • Listens to speech.
  • Startles or cries at noise.
  • Awakens at loud sounds.
  • Ceases activity at a new sound.

0-3 Months

  • Turns to you when you speak.
  • Smiles when spoken to.
  • Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying.
  • Stops activity to pay attention to an unfamiliar voice.

4-6 Months

  • Responds to "no" and changes in tone of voice.
  • Looks around for the source of new sounds, e.g., doorbell, vacuum, dog.
  • Notices toys that make sounds.
  • Pays attention to music.

7 Months-1 Year

  • Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
  • Turns and looks up when you call his/her name.
  • Listens when spoken to.
  • Recognizes words for common items like "cup," "shoe," "juice."
  • Begins to respond to requests ("Come here," "Want more?").

1-2 Years

  • Points to pictures in a book when named.
  • Points to a few body parts when asked.
  • Follows simple commands and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby," "Where's your shoe?").
  • Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.

2-3 Years

  • Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop," "in-on," "big-little," "up-down").
  • Notices sounds (telephone ringing, television sounds, knocking at the door).
  • Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table").

3-4 Years

  • Hears you when you call from another room.
  • Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as other family members.
  • Understands simple "who?," "what?," "where?" questions.

4-5 Years

  • Pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions about it.
  • Everyone who knows child thinks he/she hears well. (teacher, day care provider, family members)
  • Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school.

NORMAL SPEECH & LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Birth

  • Makes pleasure sounds.

0-3 Months

  • Repeats the same sounds frequently (cooing, gooing).
  • Cries differently for different needs.
  • Smiles when she sees you.

4-6 Months

  • Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds, including p, b, and m.
  • Tells you (by sound or gesture) when he/she wants you to do something.
  • Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you.

7 Months-1year

  • Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata upup bibibibi."
  • Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep attention. Imitates different speech sounds.
  • Has 1 or 2 words ("bye-bye," "dada," "mama," "no") although they may not be clear.

1-2 Years

  • Says more words every month.
  • Uses some 1-2-word questions ("Where kitty?" "Go bye-bye?" "What's that?").
  • Puts 2 words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book").
  • Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

2-3 Years

  • Has a word for almost everything.
  • Uses 2-3-word "sentences" to talk about and ask for things.
  • Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time.
  • Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them.

3-4 Years

  • Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes.
  • Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words.
  • People outside family usually understand child's speech.
  • Uses a lot of sentences that have 4 or more words.

4-5 Years

  • Voice sounds clear like other children's.
  • Uses sentences that give lots of details (e.g. "I like to read my books").
  • Tells stories that stick to topic.
  • Communicates easily with other children and adults.
  • Says most sounds correctly except a few, like l, s, r, v, z, j, ch, sh, th. Uses adult-like grammar.
Adobe Hearing Center wishes to thank the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for permission to include the above guidelines.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to be used as a substitute for evaluation, consultation or diagnosis by a licensed physician or licensed audiologist. Further, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. Always consult with your audiologist and primary care physician regarding matters related to your hearing.

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