You should take your child to see a pediatric audiologist if they:
- Fail their newborn hearing test
- Stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for more than 5 days after birth
- Have speech or language delays
- Have developmental delays
- You’re worried about your child’s hearing
- They have had several ear infections
If any of these apply to your child, it’s important to make an appointment right away.
Not sure where to go? You can talk to your child’s pediatrician and ask for a referral to a pediatric audiologist, or contact an audiology clinic that has pediatric specialists.
Why Should I See a Pediatric Audiologist?
Finding hearing loss early is really important. That’s because the first few years of life are when children’s brains are especially ready to learn language. This is called the critical period for language learning. The most important time is the first 18 to 24 months of life. During this time, kids learn to listen, understand, and use language.
If a child has hearing loss and it isn’t discovered early enough, it can affect how they learn to speak, understand language and pick up on social cues (such as sarcasm). Here are a few examples of what can happen if hearing problems aren’t addressed in time:
- Have trouble saying words clearly, especially consonants (like “B” or “D”).
- Have trouble learning to read and write when they start school.
- Begin to fall behind in school
- Finding it hard to talk with other kids and make friends.
While some children can learn to speak later, they may not be able to speak as well as their peers if they do not get help early on. This can also affect their schoolwork and social life.
If you begin to notice any of these signs, don’t wait! Call our office and request to be seen by a pediatric audiologist today!
