Children’s Hearing
Expert audiological care for your child.
At Alpha Hearing, we recognise the indispensable role of normal hearing in shaping a child’s life. As experienced audiologists, we understand the critical impact that hearing abilities have on a child’s overall development, communication skills, and social well-being. Our commitment is to provide comprehensive hearing care, offering early detection, diagnosis, and effective management of any potential hearing loss in children.
The Vitality of Normal Hearing for Children: Ensuring your child has healthy ears hearing.
Speech & language development
Language is learned through exposure to sound. Children pick up words they hear in their environment. But language development is not the only thing that depends on your child’s ability to hear. Their listening ability influences how they learn to read, write and understand the world around them, including other people.
Hearing loss negatively impacts listening ability. This is why hearing loss will greatly impact a child’s social skills as well as speech and language development.
To develop spoken language, children must be able to hear speech sounds clearly. If your child has hearing loss, their basic language development is impacted. As your child grows, their listening environments change depending on different life stages, from infancy, to nursery through the school years and beyond. A hearing loss will impact their life differently at each stage.
When should your child have a hearing test?
It is crucial to monitor your child’s hearing health from an early age. We recommend booking a hearing test for your child if you are concerned about their hearing or if you notice any of the following signs or risk factors:
- Delayed speech and language development.
- Difficulty understanding conversations or frequently asking for repetition.
- Inattentiveness, poor academic performance, or behavioral issues at school.
- Frequent ear infections or discharge from the ears, which may lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss.
- Family history of hearing loss or other known genetic conditions affecting hearing.
- Peace of mind; you just want to be sure your child has normal hearing.
Common reasons for hearing loss in children
Hearing loss in children can occur due to various factors. Some common causes include:
- Congenital conditions: Genetic factors or prenatal infections can lead to hearing loss at birth.
- Middle ear infections: Recurrent or severe infections can cause temporary hearing loss if left untreated.
- Noise exposure: Excessive noise levels, such as prolonged exposure to loud music or environments, can damage a child’s hearing.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as some antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs, may cause hearing loss as a side effect.
- Head trauma: Injuries to the head or ear can result in hearing loss or damage to the auditory system.
How hearing loss in children is managed at Alpha Hearing
Our dedicated team of audiologists employ state-of-the-art techniques to evaluate, treat, and manage hearing loss in children aged 6 years and older. We utilise advanced assessments to accurately diagnose the type, severity, and underlying causes of your child’s hearing loss. Assessment will include comprehensive hearing tests, middle ear testing, speech testing and further referral is required. Results will be reported to the child’s GP on the same day.
Our audiologists collaborate closely with a network of health professionals including GPs, ENTs and speech-language pathologists to develop individualised management plans aimed at optimizing speech and language development in children with hearing loss.
By entrusting your child’s hearing care to our dedicated team of audiologists, you are choosing a team that care about the long-term success and well-being of your child. We are passionate about improving the quality of life for children with hearing loss, providing compassionate care, and empowering families with the knowledge and resources they need.
If you suspect your child has hearing loss, don’t delay. Book them in for an assessment.
