The lack of early detection of hearing problems in children is a major public health problem. The average age at which moderate to severe hearing problems are detected in children is two to three years of age, but these problems can and should be identified and treated much sooner. If undetected and untreated, hearing loss in children leads to delayed speech and language development and can contribute to emotional, social, and academic problems later.
Ideally, doctors should identify infants with hearing loss before three months of age, so that intervention can begin by six months. Parents are usually the first to suspect a hearing loss. Any child should have a hearing test who experiences any of the following conditions:
• children at risk for hearing problems, such as those with abnormalities of the skull or face.
• a child who does not follow directions
• speech or language delay
• behavioral problems
• any child whose parent is concerned about hearing