The Hearing Loss Association of America estimates that 30 of every 1,000 children have hearing loss. Children who are born deaf often learn to communicate with sign language and become part of an inclusive community known as the deaf culture.

Children born hearing who begin to lose that sense however, are often at a loss for learning the language, speech and social skills of their peers.

According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), children who aren’t hearing well may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Speech is delayed or not clear. If you can’t understand a child when he speaks, it might be because he hasn’t heard language clearly enough to be able to speak it well.
• Does not follow direction. Again, some children definitely march to the tune of their very own drummer, but others may simply not hear you when you tell them how many laps to run or what time to show up for dinner.
• Often says “huh” or responds inappropriately to a question or request.
• Is easily frustrated.
• Volume of personal electronic device is consistently turned up too high.