Is Your Child Hearing Clearly?

Unlike the visual system which continues to evolve during the first few months of life, the hearing system is fully developed at birth. Newborns should therefore have perfect hearing. That’s why hearing screening is now performed shortly after delivery.

However, other factors can affect hearing health during childhood.

• Meningitis or encephalitis
• Chronic ear infections
• Severe cases of measles or mumps
• Chemotherapy
• Trauma or accidents
• Overexposure to certain noises

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 13% of Canadian children 14 years old or younger suffer from some form of hearing impairment. Are you familiar with the telltale signs?

• Learning and memory problems

• Difficulty concentrating and inability to follow instructions

• Turning up the volume of electronic devices excessively high

• Trouble hearing in noisy environments

• Unresponsive when called upon

• Delayed speech or lack of speech clarity

If you have any doubts regarding your little one’s hearing, don’t hesitate to visit a specialist. Early detection can prevent irreversible long-term damage. At the Marie-Josée Paul hearing clinics, our hearing care professionals will provide you with all the necessary information on how to go about receiving a diagnosis and treatment.