It is very important for a child's hearing and eyesight to be tested several times when they're young so that any problems can be picked up and treated early on.
If testing identifies a condition that is affecting your child's hearing or vision, your GP may be able to monitor and treat it.
Alternatively, your child may be referred to a hearing or eye specialist who will be able to provide equipment, such as glasses or a hearing aid, to help improve their hearing or vision.
Read more information about the different types of hearing and eye specialists.
Diagnosing a hearing or vision problem early will also ensure that you and your child have access to any special learning support services that are needed.
Hearing
Routine hearing tests check whether a child's hearing is within the normal range of volume and pitch.
Recognising hearing problems
A baby’s hearing should develop gradually during the first year of his or her life.
When a baby is about one month old, they will notice sounds and may turn towards the source of the noise. At around four months, they will be excited at hearing sounds and smile in response to the sound of a familiar voice.
At around seven months old, a baby will turn to a familiar voice across a room or to very quiet noises made on each side. At around 12 months, they will respond to certain words, such as their name.
In older children, the symptoms of hearing loss may include:
- inattentiveness
- talking loudly and listening to the television at a high volume
- mispronouncing words
- being unsettled at school
Talk to your GP if you think that your child’s hearing is not developing normally. They may have a hearing impairment or be developing one, or they may have a temporary hearing problem, such as reduced hearing that is caused by a cold.
Other possible causes of hearing impairment include:
- glue ear: a build-up of fluid in the middle ear which is common in young children
- infections that develop in the womb or at birth, such as rubella or cytomegalovirus, which can cause progressive hearing loss
- inherited conditions, such as otosclerosis, which stop the ears or nerves from working properly
- damage to the cochlear or auditory nerves (which transmit hearing signals to the brain); this could be caused by a severe head injury, exposure to loud noise or other factors, such as head surgery
- being starved of oxygen at birth (birth asphyxia), or having had severe jaundice (yellowing of the skin caused by a build-up in the blood of a substance called bilirubin)
- illnesses, such as meningitis and encephalitis (which both involve swelling in the brain)
Vision
Routine eye tests check whether there is any visible defect or deformity in the eyes, such as a cataract (cloudy patches in the lens of the eye), lazy eye (amblyopia) or squint (where the eyes look in different directions).
The tests also check that the child can follow movement in the normal field of vision by looking up, down and side to side, as well as checking for short-sightedness (myopia) and long-sightedness (hyperopia).
Children of secondary-school age may also be tested for colour blindness (difficulty seeing colours or distinguishing between two different colours).
Recognising vision problems
Young children don't always realise that they have a problem with their vision, so it is important to be aware of signs that may indicate this. Signs of a possible vision problem include:
- erratic eye movements
- not turning towards the source of sounds (also a sign of hearing impairment)
- poking or rubbing their eyes
- not making eye contact
In older children, the symptoms of a vision problem may also include the following:
- regular headaches
- sitting very close to the television
- poor attention at school
- reading difficulties
Possible causes of vision problems in babies and children include the following:
- long- or short-sightedness (which are usually inherited)
- astigmatism, where the cornea (the transparent layer at the front of the eye) is not perfectly curved or choroidoretinal degeneration (where part of the eye gradually stops working properly)
- damage to the optic nerve (optic atrophy)
- a tumour or growth that presses on the sight centre of the brain and affects vision
- cataracts that are present at birth (congenital)
- problems related to premature birth, where the eyes have not had time to develop fully
After vision problems have been detected, treatment and educational support can be given. The earlier this happens, the better because untreated vision problems can often get worse.
