Hearing loss can affect one or both ears. The degree of hearing loss is measured in units of sound called decibels (dB). You will remember from the Measurement of Sound section of this manual that this measurement denotes the loudness level at which an individual can detect a pure tone.

Becoming familiar with the signs and symptoms of hearing loss in children may help you identify them earlier and help avoid delays in speech/language development, poor pronunciation, or more complicated communication difficulties that can affect behavior, relationships, and learning. By understanding the stages—or milestones— of child development, you can expand your ability to detect a possible hearing loss beyond physical signs and symptoms.

Watch for these obvious and not-so-obvious medical complaints and signs: 

• Pain in the ear(s). 

• Discharge from the ear(s). 

• Ringing or buzzing in the ear(s). 

• Inability to hear certain tones. 

• Straining to hear conversation. 

• Dizziness with no apparent cause. 

• The favoring of one ear. 

• Lack of response to nearby sounds. 

• Need for loud volume on TV or radio. 

• Problems understanding speech when background noise is present.