Why test your child’s hearing before the beginning of kindergarten

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a parent to realize that their child has hearing problems, especially at a young age. Indeed:

• Young children with hearing loss are very successful in compensating when they do not understand what is said to them or they might not know what it means to hear well;
• Depending on the degree of loss and the sounds affected by hearing loss, a child with hearing impairment may have varying reactions to speech and sounds around them. This can become confusing for those around them. Is he ignoring me or not hearing me?

Should my child’s hearing be tested before school even if he was screened at birth?

Yes! Although hearing screening done at birth can eliminate important degrees of hearing loss for certain specific sounds, some hearing losses may not have been detected. Additionally, a hearing problem may appear over time.

Studies show that the number of hearing loss is increasing among school-aged children, particularly due to ear infections which temporarily affect hearing, but also due to the permanent hearing loss that can be developed.

The consequences of hearing loss in a child

Regardless of the degree and cause of hearing loss, it is likely to have serious consequences in a child, particularly for:

• The development of his language; for example: he cannot speak clearly, doesn’t say enough words, doesn’t use proper sentences, etc.
• His behavior (inattention, shyness, frustration, etc.)
• Its school functioning; for example: he does not follow the teacher’s instructions well in a group, he copies what others around him do, etc.
• Their social interactions (having difficulty making friends, interrupting others’ speech)
• His quality of life.

BY Laurie Ouellet, Audiologist, Polyclinique de l’Oreille