Health Tip: Have Your Child's Hearing Checked

(HealthDay News) -- Children need regular hearing tests to help identify any hearing problems before they worsen.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has issued guidelines for when school-age children should have their hearing examined.

A hearing test should be performed:

• Before children start school, and each year beginning with kindergarten through the third grade. The test should be repeated when children are in the seventh and 11th grades.
• If concerns arise about a child's language, speech, learning or hearing capabilities.
• If a family history of hereditary hearing loss exists, particularly later in life.
• If there are persistent ear infections.
• If there are problems with the skull or face that may affect hearing, or an injury to the head that rendered the child unconscious.
• If there are other factors that could lead to hearing loss, such as being exposed repeatedly to very loud noise.