Discovering a hearing loss in a small child can be very difficult. Some children have just a slight hearing loss, which is difficult to detect. Others have a more severe hearing loss and therefore show more obvious signs.

Through the use of new-born hearing screening programs, most hearing losses are discovered immediately. Other times, though, the hearing loss is first discovered when the child does not develop speech.

You, as a parent will often be the first to become suspicious of your child not hearing well.

By noticing small signs in common everyday situations you intuitively sense if something is wrong. Maybe the tiny tot does not turn its head towards the sound of the doorbell ringing. Or perhaps your baby does not react when called from another room or from behind.

Having noticed signs like these, you probably want to know for sure if your child has a hearing loss or not. You may also be uncertain as to what to do.

Some parents actually deny what they are observing for some time, because it is too painful for them to accept what is happening. This is a perfectly normal reaction.

For the sake of your child, though, it is important not to waste valuable time. If your child in fact has a hearing loss it is important to take action by seeing your family doctor immediately.

Children begin to communicate from the moment they are born. They are constantly listening and very soon they are able to recognise the voices of their mother and father. And they learn to talk by imitating the sounds they hear.

Children with hearing loss can have difficulty learning to communicate because they cannot hear all or part of the sounds around them or even their own voice. Thus, the sooner your child gets help, the better. Because the sooner a hearing loss is identified, the better the chances of successful rehabilitation.