Hearing loss can be very difficult to diagnose in children who are not old enough to speak or to fully express themselves. Hearing problems in infants are most likely to be found during screenings that are routinely performed by physicians on children soon after birth. Many states require newborns to be screened before leaving the hospital. In other cases, parents may discover that babies do not respond to loud noises or the sound of others’ voices. It is crucial to discover hearing loss as soon as possible – children who are diagnosed and treated by the age of 6 months have the best odds of developing language in a normal manner.

As children grow older, it may become easier to detect signs of hearing loss. Children may report that people seem to mumble a lot and that they often have to ask others to repeat themselves. Parents may also notice that their children do not appear to hear the doorbell or telephone ringing.

Hearing is tested during the regular well-child visits to ensure normal hearing development in children. Parents of children who appear to have hearing loss should consult a physician to receive a formal diagnosis. The physician will perform a complete physical examination and compile a thorough medical history. In particular, the physician will look for signs of fluid, infection, earwax or ear abnormalities. The physician will also look for the presence of a foreign object in the ear.

If underlying illness is ruled out as the source of a hearing loss, the child may be referred to an audiologist, a health professional with expertise in testing the hearing of children and others. In other cases, the child may be sent to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) who will examine the child’s ears and upper respiratory tract.

There are two major types of hearing tests. Electrophysiologic tests measure a child’s ability to hear based on electrical information generated from the auditory nervous system. Behavioral tests use a technique called audiometry – in which tones are introduced to a child in a soundproof room – while an audiologist observes the child’s responses to these sounds.

In addition to these tests, tympanometry is sometimes performed to measure the eardrum’s response to soft sounds or air pressure in the ear canal.

Most hearing tests are performed in a hospital or other facility with a soundproof room. These tests unfold differently depending on the nature of the test being performed. Once a hearing deficiency has been diagnosed, early treatment is crucial to long-term prognosis.