How to Know If Your Toddler Has Hearing Problems

Identifying whether your child has a hearing problem can be a somewhat tricky procedure. As always, it's best to meet with your family doctor to confirm any suspicions you may have. However, there are a few ways to test your toddler to see if she is having a difficult time hearing before she takes the hearing test at the doctor;s office. Evaluating your child's hearing ability will allow you to relay any important information to your doctor before she begins assessing any problems.

Instructions

• 1

  Compare your toddler's speaking ability to other children the same age. Learning how to speak comes quite naturally for most children, but for those who cannot hear, or have a difficult time hearing, learning how to speak may come very slowly. According to Kidshealth.org, your child should be able to mimic small words (such as mama or daddy) by 12 months.

• 2

  Watch to see if your toddler reacts to loud sounds or strange noises. Many children, including babies and toddlers, are startled by loud noises and show it in their face and with their body.

• 3

  Test to see if your child hears softer noises. To do this, call your toddler's name quietly several times to see if she responds. Do so from both sides of her head to get a better idea of which ear may be stronger.

• 4

  Observe your child to see if she can do simple tasks expected from toddlers. For example, most toddlers can listen to stories or songs without much distraction, follow easy verbal commands, verbally identify common items, repeat sounds that others make and point to named objects. If your child has difficulty with these tasks, he may not be hearing properly.

• 5

  Schedule a hearing test with your family doctor or audiologist if you suspect that your toddler does have hearing problems. The doctor can properly assess your child and offer treatment or advice on what to do next.