While it's difficult for parents to discover that their child has a hearing loss, there are steps that can be taken to help. Each year thousands of children are diagnosed with some form of a hearing loss. Most of these children have hearing loss caused by middle-ear involvement, such as ear infections or fluid in their ears. Some have wax in their ears blocking the sound from traveling down the ear canal. Others have a permanent hearing loss.

There have been tremendous advancements in the audiology field over the years, and an experienced audiologist can help determine the cause and degree of your child's hearing loss. The audiologists at Audiology Unlimited, led by Kathy Mellott, Au.D., provide high quality hearing services to patients of all ages at three separate locations in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, MD. With access to a variety of resources, they will determine the next step for helping your child hear better. No one is too young to be tested.

The best way to prevent serious damage against hearing loss is to receive an early diagnosis. Most newborns receive hearing screening prior to being discharged from the hospital. These tests are highly effective, but not perfect. Hearing loss may also manifest later in life, so it’s important that they receive hearing screenings in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as at least once at the ages of six, eight, and ten.

In addition to tests, it’s also important to keep a watchful eye out for any signs of hearing loss, which include:

• Not being startled by loud noises
• Difficulty understanding speech with background noise
• Frequently switching ears while on the phone
• Delays in speech and language
• Sitting close to the TV when it can be heard from farther away
• Inability to pinpoint where a sound is coming from

If your child is suffering from any of these symptoms, the most important thing to remember is that neither you nor your child is alone. With help from the experienced audiologists at Audiology Unlimited, your child can be on his/her way to hearing better. For more information, visit the website.