Warning Signs

Does your child...

Frequently misunderstand what is said and want things repeated?

Have difficulty following verbal instructions and/or respond inconsistently?

Turn up the volume of the television, radio, or stereo?

Get distracted easily?

Have difficulty listening or paying attention when there is noise in the background?

Have speech and/or language problems?

Have a short attention span or poor memory for sounds or words?

Have trouble identifying and/or localizing sounds?

Have reading, spelling, and other academic problems?

Have self-described feelings of isolation, exclusion, annoyance, embarrassment, confusion, and helplessness?

Have behavior problems?

Pull or scratch at his or her ears?

Have a history of three or more ear infections?

Children with hearing loss may demonstrate some, many, or none of these signs. Behaviors also may vary at different ages. There may be hearing loss if you answered yes to one or more of these questions or your child has failed a hearing screening.

For Help and Advice

If you think your child may have a hearing, speech, or language problem, you can contact an ASHA-certified audiologist or speech-language pathologist.

Audiologists specialize in prevention, identification, and assessment of hearing and related disorders, like balance problems. They recommend and provide appropriate treatment including hearing aids and assistive listening technology. Audiologists also provide audiologic rehabilitation to help acquire or restore communication skills. They also participate in preventative activities such as newborn and traditional hearing screening programs; workshops, health fairs, and wellness programs; occupational and community hearing and conservation programs; individual and group consultation; and provision of hearing protective devices.

Speech-language pathologists specialize in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of speech and language disorders. In addition, they treat and assess disorders in swallowing, cognitive communication, and auditory processing. They also help individuals who may not have a disorder but want to improve their effectiveness communicating or modify their accent.

ASHA certified audiologists and speech language pathologists have masters or doctoral degrees and the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology(CCC-A), in speech language pathology (CCC-SLP), or they may be dual certified(CCC-SLP/A).

To find an ASHA-certified pathologist or speech-language pathologist visit:

Find a Professional
ASHA's Online Directory of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Programs

Or contact:
The American Speech Language Hearing Association
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
1-800-638-8255
actioncenter@asha.org


	Listen To Your Buds^TM is a consumer awareness campaign by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association about the potential risk of hearing loss from unsafe usage of personal audio technology.