Hearing loss in children
Children
How hearing is checked in children, and what parents notice
Children's hearing is handled differently from adults' — it is screened early, it is assessed by clinicians with specific paediatric training, and much of it is publicly funded in New Zealand. This page explains how that works. It is general information, and anything about your own child belongs with your GP or an audiologist.
Screening starts early
New Zealand offers newborn hearing screening, so that hearing differences can be picked up in the first weeks rather than years later. Screening is not the same as a full assessment — it identifies babies who need a closer look.
Hearing can also change after birth, so a clear newborn screen does not rule out hearing loss developing later in childhood.
Who assesses children
Paediatric audiology is its own area of practice. Testing a baby or a young child uses different methods from testing an adult, and is carried out by clinicians with specific training in it.
The New Zealand Audiological Society publishes information for families on paediatric audiology, including what assessment involves.
What parents commonly notice
These are things families often mention. They are not a checklist and they do not diagnose anything — several have completely ordinary explanations. If you are wondering, that is reason enough to ask.
- A baby who does not startle at sudden loud sounds, or does not turn towards a voice
- Speech that is later or less clear than you expected
- A child who does not respond when called unless they can see you
- Turning the television up, or sitting very close to it
- Seeming to hear well on some days and not others — which can suggest fluid that comes and goes
- Difficulty at school that looks like inattention
- Frequent ear infections
Speak to your GP, your Well Child provider or an audiologist if you are unsure. Nobody will mind you asking.
Glue ear and fluid behind the eardrum
Fluid collecting behind the eardrum is common in young children. It is a conductive cause — it gets in the way of sound reaching the inner ear, which is otherwise working normally.
Because it can come and go, hearing can genuinely vary from week to week, which is often what parents are describing when they say a child seems to hear "only when they want to".
Management is decided by a doctor or specialist. Some children are monitored, and some are treated. That decision is not ours to make or to predict.
If your child has grommets
Some children who have had grommets fitted are advised by their specialist to keep water out of their ears. If that applies to your child, follow the advice you were given — it is specific to them.
Where keeping water out has been advised, custom-moulded ear plugs are one practical way of doing it. Follow the advice your specialist gave you on what is appropriate for your child.
Funding for children in New Zealand
Hearing aids for children in New Zealand are publicly funded. The New Zealand Audiological Society sets out that funding runs through Disability Support Services for pre-schoolers and school-age children, and continues up to 21 years of age while a young person is in full-time education. Most children’s hearing aids are fitted through the public hospital system, though some private clinics also fit them and may charge for that service.
The New Zealand Audiological Society maintains information on funding options, and your audiologist should be able to tell you which pathway applies to your child.
Common questions from parents
My baby passed the newborn screen. Could they still have hearing loss?
Yes. A newborn screen checks hearing at that point in time, and hearing can change afterwards. If you have concerns as your child grows, raise them regardless of the newborn result.
How do you test a child who is too young to respond?
Paediatric testing uses methods suited to the child's age and stage, rather than asking them to press a button. This is a specialist area with its own training, which is why children are seen by clinicians who do this work specifically.
Is glue ear permanent?
Fluid behind the eardrum often changes over time, and it is a conductive cause rather than damage to the inner ear. What happens next is a decision for your doctor or a specialist, based on your own child.
Could hearing explain difficulty at school?
It is one of several possible explanations and it is a straightforward one to check. Auditory processing difficulties are also assessed by audiologists and are distinct from hearing loss — the New Zealand Audiological Society publishes information on both.
Are hearing aids for children funded in New Zealand?
Health New Zealand states that hearing aids for tamariki are funded by the Ministry of Health and provided by Health New Zealand. That is a different pathway from the schemes that apply to adults, and your audiologist can explain which applies.
If you want your own hearing checked
Book a hearing appointment
This page is general information. A hearing test measures your own hearing and is the only way to know where yours sits.
Sources
- NZAS — Paediatric audiology
- NZAS — Hearing aid funding
- Disability Support Services — Deaf or hearing loss equipment for children
- Health New Zealand — Hearing loss in adults
- NZAS — Auditory processing disorder
- World Health Organization — Deafness and hearing loss — fact sheet
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or individual advice.
Hearing with Heart
Audiology & Ear Hygiene
Unit 34, The Acres,
Halswell, Christchurch 8025,
New Zealand