Signs of deafness and hearing loss

While some children are born deaf, hearing loss can happen at any age. Some children may be identified as deaf later in childhood and others may experience temporary hearing loss, such as glue ear.

If you think a child may be having difficulties hearing, there are some signs to look out for:

• red ears in babies and/or pulling at their ears
• watching faces and lips intently
• difficulties with reading and learning
• difficulties with speech and communication, mispronouncing words, or talking louder or softer than expected
• not responding when called or misunderstanding instructions
• wanting the volume of the TV higher than other people
• constantly saying "what?" or asking for speech to be repeated
• watching what others are doing before doing it themselves
• finding it difficult to follow what’s going on if there’s background noise
• appearing inattentive or as though daydreaming
• struggling to concentrate, feeling tired, appearing withdrawn or frustrated

If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, speak to your GP. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to self-refer to an audiologist.