Whether or not your child’s hearing problems will go away on their own will depend on their cause. In some cases, hearing loss may go away with enough time. However, failing to get your child the care they need in a timely manner can also put them at risk of worsening health issues. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to bring your child in for care as soon as you suspect they may be having problems hearing.

With children, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not hearing loss is a problem, but there are some signs you can watch out for. Often, children with hearing loss may have delayed or abnormal speech, difficulty in school, problems with daydreaming, problems following directions, or problems responding when spoken to. Children may also turn their TV or music up to high volumes and have difficulty hearing over background noises.

Earaches are common in children, and they aren’t always a sign that your child needs medical care. However, earaches can sometimes be symptoms of deeper issues. If your child’s earaches are affecting their ability to live and enjoy life, or if they persist or worsen with time, you should bring your child to an ENT for treatment.

There are a couple of straightforward things you can do to protect your child from hearing loss. First, limit their exposure to loud noises as much as possible, and use hearing protection when loud noises can’t be avoided. You can set limits on the time your child spends listening to loud sounds, and model good behavior yourself by watching and listening at a reasonable volume.