Spotting signs of a hearing problem

Although your child will be offered routine hearing tests as they grow up, it’s still important for you to look out for signs of any problems and seek advice if you have any concerns.

For babies, the checklist in your baby’s personal child health record (red book) can be used to help you check your child’s hearing as they grow up.

In older children, signs of a possible hearing problem can include:

• inattentiveness or poor concentration
• not responding when their name is called
• talking loudly and listening to the television at a high volume
• difficulty pinpointing where a sound is coming from
• mispronouncing words
• a change in their progress at school

Spotting signs of an eye problem

Although your child should have regular eye tests as they grow up, it’s still important to look out for signs of any problems and get advice if you have any concerns.

For babies, the checklist in your baby’s personal child health record (red book) can be used to help you check if your child’s vision is developing normally.

In older children, signs of a possible eye problem can include:

•       the eyes not pointing in the same direction

•       complaining of headaches or eye strain

•       problems reading – for example, they may need to hold books close to their face and they may lose their place regularly

•       problems with hand-eye co-ordination – for example, they may struggle to play ball games

•       being unusually clumsy

•       regularly rubbing their eyes

•       sitting too close to the TV

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eye-tests-in-children/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-tests-children/