Why should toddlers have a hearing test?
All newborns are offered a routine hearing screen shortly after birth. This screen is important because hearing is a fundamental part of a child’s development. There is extensive research that shows hearing effects speech and language development, socialising, quality of life, and academic outcomes.
1-3 per thousand babies will be born with a permanent hearing loss. However not all childhood hearing losses are present at birth. Some permanent hearing losses develop in the first years of life. This may be due to genetic reasons or may be acquired through things such as viral infections or traumatic head injuries. Regular hearing checks in the first few years of life can detect any changes to your child’s hearing. If a permanent hearing loss is diagnosed, then a management plan can be recommended to ensure your child reaches their full potential.
It is also important to monitor your child’s ear health in their early years because their ear anatomy is still maturing and they are prone to something called “Glue Ear” or “Otitis Media”. This is a fluid build-up in the middle ear space. The middle ear is supposed to be an air-filled space. Fluid in the middle ear can impact the sound travelling through to the inner part of the ear causing a “conductive hearing loss”. A conductive hearing loss is usually temporary and resolves on its own, but sometimes medical management is needed. If left untreated, glue ear can impact on a child’s speech and language development as well as mood, sleep, appetite and balance.
It is important to regularly check your child’s hearing and ear health because early identification of a hearing loss (permanent or conductive) means that intervention can happen in a timely manner. We recommend an annual hearing check until school age or sooner if you have any concerns.
