Even a hearing center and a doctor well versed in childhood development may have a difficult time pinpointing whether or not a child has any degree of auditory impairment. This is especially true in very early childhood, where difficulties and learning impairments can be masked as any number of things. It is vitally important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible, however, as any auditory loss of function can delay the child developmentally. Treatment and listening aids can provide a way for the child to catch up. Here are some of the things you can do to detect a problem.

Sound Response

Even a very young baby should respond to external sounds. While you don't want to constantly try to startle and scare your infant in an attempt to evaluate auditory loss, it's okay to clap your hands loudly or simply watch your child react whenever a loud noise presents itself naturally. It shouldn't take a very loud or sudden noise to create a reaction, of course. A hearing center tests a person's ability to hear using the softest tones possible. Your baby should be naturally responding to the soft sound of your voice, the tones of the mobile, and other gentle sounds. If he isn't, there may be a problem.

Copying

One of the most important components of developing a baby's speech is to have them repeat words and sounds back to you. This is the point of various toys and educational tools such as the old "spin the wheel and hear an animal sound". The child learns animal sounds, but is also encouraged to make the sounds on their own, which can lead to speech development. A child who is unable to hear, of course, is going to have a very difficult or impossible time trying to emulate these sounds. They may hear them in an entirely different way, if they hear them at all. Look for these discrepancies if you want to determine whether the child has impairment.

Request Professional Evaluation

A child's ability to hear should be regularly evaluated when they are very young. Most pediatric associations advocate regular examinations up until the child is ready to go to school. Make sure your doctor is performing these tests. As any hearing center can tell you, the ability to hear is strongly linked to a successful early development. If auditory impairment goes undiagnosed, your child may be burdened with challenges that would otherwise be much easier to overcome.