If your child often does not respond to you when you call their name or needs the volume of the television to be turned up loud it may be that they have some difficulties with their hearing.
There are two types of hearing loss :
Conductive
Conductive hearing loss is caused by a physical problem, such as a blockage of the ear canal. An example of this is glue ear.
It is fairly common for children to suffer from glue ear at least once before they are four years old but it can occur at any age. Glue ear affects hearing and even a slight loss can affect a child’s speech development. Glue ear can resolve naturally or it may need treatment.
Sensori-neural
Sensori-neural hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells or nerves that detect sound waves. This type of hearing loss is quite rare and will usually be picked up when baby’s hearing is checked just after they are born.
If you have concerns that your child may have difficulties with their hearing, contact your Health Visitor or GP and they can refer your child for a hearing test. If your child is seen by a speech and language therapist they can also make a referral for you.