What are common behaviors that can indicate hearing loss?

Answer 1

The impact of hearing loss is quite different for children versus adults. We'll consider behaviors and other effects of hearing loss separately for these two groups.

For infants and young children, behaviors associated with hearing loss include inconsistent responses to environmental sounds like a telephone ringing and to caregivers who are speaking to the child. Infant hearing loss usually interferes with the development of speech and language. Family concern is one of the important risk indicators for childhood hearing loss. Over time, hearing loss in infants and pre-school children can lead to a speech and language delay but, with early identification, accurate diagnosis, and then appropriate intervention like hearing aids and speech therapy, children with any amount of hearing loss can develop normal speech and language, and effective communication skills. School age children with hearing loss are likely to struggle in the classroom as evidenced by inability to follow instructions, reading delays, and low grades. Hearing assistive technology, including hearing aids and amplification devices to enhance the teacher's voice provide considerable benefit for such children.

A variety of behaviors in older children and adults are associated with acquired hearing loss, that is, hearing loss that occurs after the person has already developed speech and language. The most obvious problem is difficulty hearing and understanding what other people are saying, particularly during conversations in noisy settings like restaurants, social events, or automobiles. The person with a hearing impairment may repeatedly say "What?" or "Could you repeat that?" Spouses may be the first to complain about their loved one's hearing loss, along with friends and co-workers. Unfortunately, on average 7 years pass between the day when an adult with a hearing loss first experiences difficulties and when they decide to seek help for the problem. Over time a hearing loss in an adult results in psychosocial problems, behaviors such as irritability, frustration, discouragement, anxiety, and even withdrawal from friends and family members.

With modern technology all persons with hearing loss can be helped. Most types of hearing loss cannot be helped with medicine or surgery but hearing aids and other hearing devices can almost always improve communication and quality of life for adults with hearing loss.