It has long been assumed that noise-induced hearing loss is a problem for adults rather than children. However, research suggests that more than 12 percent of children aged between 6 and 19 years have hearing loss caused by noise, and that the loss is permanent for around 5 percent of them.
About one in five teenagers regularly exposes themselves to high-decibel noise, such as loud concerts, and around three-quarters of people who go to nightclubs experience temporary tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, afterwards. Tinnitus is a known symptom of hearing damage.
Other causes of hearing problems#
Apart from noise, causes of hearing problems in children include otitis media (infection of the middle ear), genetic disorders and certain diseases such as meningitis. Around 12 in 10,000 children are born with a moderate or greater hearing loss in both ears, and at least another 20 in 10,000 will need hearing aids for long-term hearing loss by the age of 17 years.
If you have any doubt at all about your baby’s or child’s hearing, have them tested. The earlier hearing loss is identified, the better for the child’s language, learning and overall development.
Causes of temporary hearing loss in children include:
- A build-up of wax in the ear canal.
- A foreign object, such as a bead or the tip of a cotton bud, stuck in the ear canal.
- Excess mucus in the Eustachian tube, caused by a cold.
- Otitis media (infection of the middle ear).
- Some illnesses, such as meningitis or mumps.
Causes of permanent hearing loss in children include:
- Hereditary conditions that cause the inner ear to develop abnormally.
- Some genetic disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta and trisomy 13.
- Loud noises, such as firecrackers, concerts or personal stereos.
- Injuries, such as concussion or skull fracture.
Signs that your baby can hear#
- Newborn to 8 weeks: startles or widens their eyes at sudden nearby noises, and is woken or stirred from sleep by noise.
- 8 weeks to 4 months: looks towards the direction of sound, and may quieten while listening.
- 6 to 12 months: turns their head towards known voices or sounds, and starts to babble.
- 12 to 18 months: knows the names of favorite toys, and begins to imitate simple words and sounds.
- 18 to 24 months: has a small vocabulary of single words, and can understand simple directions such as “Give the ball to mummy”.
- Two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years: has clear speech with a good vocabulary.
Signs of hearing problems in older children#
An older child who has trouble hearing may:
- Appear inattentive and prone to daydreaming.
- Not respond when called.
- Have a dip in school grades, because they cannot hear the teacher.
- Complain of a ringing sound in their ears (tinnitus).
- Talk too loudly.
- Watch television with the volume turned up too high.
- Pronounce words incorrectly.
If you have any doubt at all about your baby’s or child’s hearing, have them tested.
Diagnosis of hearing problems in children#
The tests used to diagnose hearing loss depend on the age of the child, but can include:
- Objective tests, such as auditory brainstem response testing, which measures the electrical activity in the brain in response to a sound.
- Simple tests, such as shaking a rattle nearby and observing the child’s response (behavioral observation audiometry).
- Tests with an audiometer, a machine that produces sounds such as beeps. Whether the child can hear certain sounds helps to pinpoint the degree of hearing loss.
- Online, game-based hearing screening tests designed for children.
Treatment for hearing problems in children#
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hearing loss, but can include:
- Antibiotics for otitis media.
- Removal of the foreign object or wax plug.
- Hearing aids to amplify sounds.
- A cochlear implant, which may be considered for severe or profound hearing loss.
- Vibrotactile aids, which translate sound into vibrations felt through the skin.
- Speech therapy.
- Assistance from a specialist teacher of the deaf to help the child make the most of their residual hearing.
Where to get help#
Sources & further reading
For evidence-based global guidance on this topic, consult authoritative public-health bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, NHS, and ECDC.