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There are many things you can do to make sure your child's hearing remains healthy.

• Have your child’s hearing screened in the first few months of life.  While watching how your child responds to clapping and other noises may alert you if your child has a hearing impairment, your child's hearing should also be screened professionally. Partial hearing disorders can often only be detected with a scientific test.
  
• Your child’s hearing should also be tested at every doctor’s visit.  Hearing loss can develop at any age.
  
• If your child suffers from recurring middle ear infections, this can lead to a hearing disorder. Be sure to ask your child’s doctor about a hearing test after an ear infection.
  
• If you suspect a problem, have your child’s doctor check it immediately.  The earlier a hearing problem is discovered, the better it is for your child.
  
• Do not buy toys or go places (like concerts) with your child that are too loud. Some children's toys are as loud as motorcycles and power saws! For more information on noisy toys and the damage they can do to your child's hearing, visit the League for the Hard of Hearing's web site at www.lhh.org/noise/children/toys.htm.
  
• Know what it takes to damage your hearing. Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper is about 10dB, and a rock concert is about 150dB. 130dB can cause pain, and 225dB is deafening. Prolonged exposure to sound above 90dB can lead to hearing loss. This means that seven minutes at a rock concert or one hour of jackhammering can cause irreparable damage to your ears.  Check out the Sight and Hearing Association's noise barometer at www.sightandhearing.org/. 
  
• Protect your own ears by wearing proper ear protection when at music concerts, mowing the lawn, or working in a noisy environment. Your children will learn from you to do the same.