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Can My Child Hear Normally?

As parents, we all want to make sure that our children meet their full potential in everything that they do.

Most children will have some trouble with their ears or hearing during their childhood and you’re right to want it investigated if you have any concerns.

Good hearing is essential to a child’s development and general wellbeing. Without good hearing, development of speech and language can be affected. Additionally, it can also have an impact on development of social skills and impact on educational attainment. Similarly behavioural and emotional issues can also arise from an undiagnosed and untreated hearing loss.


Hearing Loss in Children Symptoms

Click Hearing is one of the only private audiology practices in the country that is registered with the CQC and so, allowed by law to see children.

Our Audiologists are fully trained and experienced NHS audiologists who have close working links with several Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeons in the local and surrounding areas.

Signs that Your Child may have a Hearing Loss

For babies a checklist can be found in the baby’s personal child health record which can be used to help you check your child’s hearing as they grow.

Older children may be unaware of their hearing difficulties, especially if they have a history of problems with their ears. They may lose confidence in what they hear and ask for repetition. If they have a long history of ear infections, they may stop complaining of ear pain. Look out for these common signs of hearing loss in children:-

Inattentiveness or poor concentration
Not responding when their name is called
Talking loudly and listening to the television at a high volume
Difficulty locating where a sound is coming from
Mispronouncing words
A change in progress at school or change in behaviour

Common Causes of Hearing Loss in Children

There are several causes of hearing loss in children. Some of them are temporary hearing losses that resolve themselves such as following a cold. Others are more long-standing hearing losses that require medical assessment and intervention.

The most common causes for hearing loss in children can be very effectively managed with medicine or minor interventions. If your audiologist feels that there is a permanent hearing loss, they will be able to guide you through the next steps.
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Excessive Earwax

The ears are self-cleaning and any wax that makes its way towards the outer part of the ear can simply be wiped away. Please do not be tempted to push q-tips, baby buds, or anything else into the ear; it will simply create more problems, and over time cause an accumulation of compacted wax. Your GP may recommend ear drops to soften the wax and we should be able to remove any excessive wax using microsuction with a tiny hoover. Microsuction does need the child to remain completely still for a short while though, so is not possible on children under 5 or if they are very anxious.

Glue Ear (Otitis Media with effusion)

Otitis media effects most children at some stage and, in many cases, it will resolve spontaneously over time. When it doesn’t clear on it’s own, the fluid can become very thick (like glue) and may need treatment. You can help your child clear it themselves by practicing blowing their nose (to pop their ears). Otovent is also available to buy as a treatment for glue ear and involves the child using a nasal tip to inflate a small balloon. If time and these conservative treatments do not work, middle-ear ventilation tubes or ‘grommets’ may be recommended by your ENT doctor. These keep the middle-ear ventilated and stop the fluid from accumulating. Grommets usually come out on their own after 6-18 months.

Ear Infections (Acute Otitis Media)

Unlike glue-ear, acute otitis media is caused by an infection and so you might notice that as well as reduced hearing, your child may be under the weather, have a temperature and complain of ear ache. Treatment for acute otitis media is best managed by your GP and often involves antibiotics and pain relief. If the ear drum bursts you might notice a foul-smelling discharge from the ear or on the pillow. Usually the pain and temperature will then disappear and in almost all cases, the ear-drum will soon heal over.

How we test Children’s hearing

There are many different hearing tests that can be selected and carried out for children. One of our fully qualified and experienced Audiologists will be able to advise which tests are best suited for your child taking into consideration the age and developmental age of your child. Not all tests will be required.

Visual Reinforced Audiometry (VRA)

This test is usually performed on children from 6 months of age up to 2.5 years. During the test your child will sit on your lap or a chair whilst sounds are played. Your child will be taught to link sound to a visual reward such as toy or computer screen lighting up.

Play Audiometry

Is best suited to children aged 2 to 5 years old. Play Audiometry involves your child listening to sound either through headphones or speakers. Your child will be asked to perform a simple task (such as putting a toy in a bucket) when they hear a sound.

Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)

Children aged from 4 years and older might be asked to perform Pure Tone Audiometry. Sounds will be played through headphones and your child will be asked to respond to the sound when they hear it by pressing a button. The sounds will be varied in pitch and volume to allow the Audiologist to detect the quietest sounds your child is able to hear in each individual ear.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test used to detect if the ear drum is intact and moving as freely as it is supposed to. For good hearing the eardrum needs to be flexible to allow sound to pass through it.

During the test a soft rubber tip will be placed at entrance of your child’s ear to measure the function of the middle ear. It’s not uncomfortable at all and simply requires the child to sit fairly still for a few seconds.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)

This test relies on your child sitting still and quiet but does not require a response from your child. A screening version of this is the test that newborn babies receive shortly after birth. Your audiologist will place soft silicone tip into the ear canal and play a sound. The sound travels through the auditory pathway to the organ of hearing where an echo is produced. By recording this echo it is possible to assess the function of the cochlea.

Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) & Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

These advanced tests can be performed on a person of any age or ability; but does require them to be completely still, and so are best done under natural sleep or anaesthetic. The test uses some sticky electrode pads to record the brains activity in the presence of sound. A clicking or tone sound is played through earphones and varied in intensity to find the quietest sounds your child can hear.

What clients are saying

Click Hearing. Westcliff on Sea
Click Hearing. Westcliff on Sea
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Amy WilliamsAmy Williams
14:56 11 Oct 24
I took my child for an hearing assessment and the assessment was very informative and professional. My son really enjoyed the assessment and found it very interesting with the pictures and diagrams shared and explained. Excellent service, would highly recommend.
Anne KibuukaAnne Kibuuka
10:55 08 Oct 24
Very helpful, effecient. Premises comfortable and clean.
Kerstin BarnesKerstin Barnes
15:41 30 Sep 24
Excellent service! Friendly, efficient and very professional. Felt confident that after my thorough hearing test all was well.Would definitely recommend.
Alex KerrisonAlex Kerrison
10:03 05 Sep 24
Wonderful staff, also very professional helping with your hearing problem…
Antony GunnellAntony Gunnell
06:56 05 Jul 24
Clean, professional setting, helpful and happy staff, great service.
M ShöâeèM Shöâeè
10:38 15 Jul 23
Great quick service for ear wax removal.However, went there today (Saturday 11:30am) and they were shut despite google saying they’re open.
Dave EllisonDave Ellison
06:18 25 May 23
Professional service, helpful friendly staff.
Peter PhelpsPeter Phelps
20:16 26 Oct 22
A very professional business. Thorough and not rushed examination. Very friendly and polite staff. Recommended
Richard PohlRichard Pohl
19:22 24 May 22
Fantastic service, booked online at 6am and was all all done by 9am. Got there early and seen immediately . Went in not hearing a thing and Lisa did a fantastic job getting the wax out. Thank you also to Emily at reception, lovely customer service. If you need help with your ears look no further . Thank you all.
Darell HervelDarell Hervel
12:47 29 Apr 22
Very friendly staff. Quick service. Very informative and useful feedback. The professional took her time explaining everything so I understood everything. Painless and super effective. Had a build up of wax in my left ear and could not hear a thing, booked my appointment that same week and was seen to very quickly and in 20 mins it was done. I can hear again!
Deborah BeattieDeborah Beattie
12:24 29 Apr 22
I was first seen by the receptionist who was very nice. I was seen very promptly for my appointment.Georgia was the lady who looked after me.She was lovely. She was very knowledgeable and checked me over.Everything sorted within the appointment time.My ears feel great again.Would definitely go back again.x
kevin millskevin mills
15:28 13 Jul 24
very professional and polite people very helpful
Renata FurmanRenata Furman
13:15 08 Oct 23
Professional
lisa Martinlisa Martin
18:00 11 Sep 23
Took my dad for an appointment at the Clinc today 11-9-2023 fabulous service would definitely recommend and thank you so much to the lovely receptionist who helped my dad out to the car we really appreciated it their still is some lovely people about 😊
Matt SullivanMatt Sullivan
09:47 05 Sep 23
Great experience with me and my mum, staff were lovely and very helpful and took care of my mum and her blocked ears.
Alicia SalgadoAlicia Salgado
11:37 24 Jun 23
Had the ear wax removal done@Click once again, they are God sent! Lovely, caring and professional team. Got an appointment very quickly. So very grateful! 100% recommend ♥️♥️
Ben MillerBen Miller
08:49 02 Sep 22
I went in for 'vestibular function tests'. The audiologist was excellent. Very personable and friendly. She kept me informed in straightforward, non-jargon language and I felt by the end of it all that I understood what had just happened and what it all meant, rather than just having experienced some sort of arcane medical experiment. Top marks 👍.
Andy WayAndy Way
09:13 08 Jun 22
First visit for me, although I have had the treatment before. Smart interior and polite Receptionist.Professional treatment (Georgia), conducted in a friendly and relaxed fashion. Good communication throughout. Have booked follow up later in the year and would recommend.
Juliette PettittJuliette Pettitt
11:32 22 May 22
Very easy to book an appointment on line at the Chelmsford click hearing.My teenage son was a bit anxious about going but he was very well looked after.Excellent knowledgeable professional treatment and we learned some interesting facts about our ears.Very good after care information to help keep your ears in good health.I will be highly recommending you to my family and friends.Thank you.
Lizzy BLizzy B
09:05 23 Apr 22
Extremely easy to book. I loved being able to see inside my ear after years of ear treatment. The staff were friendly, the service very quick and all in all a fabulous experience. I had the micro suction and won't hesitate to return for it again, along with when I need a hearing aid.
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