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Child Hearing Loss in Pakistan: Signs, Screening & Hearing Aids

Writer: Hearing Solutions
Hearing Solutions
2 days ago
8 min read
Child with behind-the-ear hearing aid, child hearing loss care in Pakistan at Professional Hearing Solutions
Quick answer: Child hearing loss is best found early: ideally screening by 1 month, diagnosis by 3 months and hearing aids or other support by 6 months. Warning signs include not startling to loud sounds, not turning to voices by about 6 months, or delayed words. Professional Hearing Solutions fits children's hearing aids with custom ear moulds in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Reviewed and updated on 26 September 2026 by the Professional Hearing Solutions audiology team, Islamabad & Rawalpindi.


Why does early detection of hearing loss in children matter so much?

The first years of life are when the brain learns language from what it hears. A child who cannot hear speech clearly in this period can fall behind in talking, understanding and learning, and early hearing aids and therapy greatly narrow that gap.

Hearing loss in a baby is invisible. Babies with hearing loss still coo, smile and sometimes seem to respond to sounds by reacting to vibrations or movement, so families and even doctors can miss it for years. International guidance, widely known as the 1-3-6 approach, recommends hearing screening by 1 month of age, full diagnosis by 3 months and the start of intervention, such as hearing aids and family-centred therapy, by 6 months. Children identified and supported in this window generally achieve much better speech and language outcomes than those identified later.

Professional Hearing Solutions, an authorised Signia hearing aid dealer serving Islamabad and Rawalpindi since 1999, provides children's hearing aid fitting, custom ear moulds and follow-up programming under one roof, so families do not have to coordinate several providers across the twin cities.


What are the signs of hearing loss in a child, by age?

Watch for a baby who does not startle at loud sounds, does not turn toward voices by about 6 months, does not babble or respond to their name by about 12 months, or has few words by 18 months to 2 years.

Hearing and speech signs to watch for, by age

Age

What most children do

Signs to get checked

Birth to 3 months

Startle or blink at sudden loud sounds; calm to a parent's voice

No reaction to loud claps or bangs

4 to 6 months

Turn eyes or head toward sounds; babble with varied sounds

Does not look for the source of a voice

7 to 12 months

Respond to their name; babble 'baba', 'mama'; understand 'no'

Does not respond to name; babbling stops or stays limited

12 to 18 months

First words; follow simple instructions

No words, or points instead of trying to speak

18 months to 2 years

Growing vocabulary; two-word phrases by about 2

Very few words; speech hard to understand

3 to 5 years

Sentences; speech mostly understood by strangers

Unclear speech, loud TV, frequent 'what?', frustration

School age

Follows class instructions and group talk

Seems inattentive, mishears, falls behind, prefers one ear

Children are not all the same, and a single late milestone is not a diagnosis. But if you are worried, test the hearing rather than wait. A child whose speech is delayed should always have a hearing test before being labelled a late talker.


Which children are at higher risk of hearing loss?

Risk is higher after a stay in neonatal intensive care, very low birth weight, severe newborn jaundice, meningitis, certain infections in pregnancy, a family history of childhood deafness, and in families where parents are closely related.

  • Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss.

  • Parents who are cousins or otherwise related: inherited (recessive) hearing loss is more common in such families, which is relevant for many Pakistani households.

  • Premature birth, very low birth weight or a prolonged neonatal ICU stay.

  • Severe newborn jaundice needing exchange transfusion.

  • Infections during pregnancy such as rubella or cytomegalovirus (CMV).

  • Meningitis, or treatment with ototoxic injectable antibiotics.

  • Syndromes or visible ear and face differences.

  • Repeated ear infections and glue ear (usually temporary but important for speech).

A child with any of these risks should be tested even if they passed a newborn screen, because some hearing loss develops or worsens later.


Is newborn hearing screening available in Pakistan, and how are children tested?

Some hospitals in Pakistan offer newborn hearing screening, but it is not yet routine everywhere, so ask before discharge. Babies are tested with OAE and ABR, while older children can do play-based audiometry and tympanometry.

How children's hearing is tested at different ages

Test

Age

What it tells us

Where

OAE (otoacoustic emissions)

Newborns and infants

Whether the inner ear's outer hair cells respond; a quick screen

Hospital or ENT audiology units

ABR / BERA

Newborns, infants, children who cannot respond

Hearing nerve response, estimates hearing level; may need natural sleep or sedation

Hospital or ENT audiology units

Behavioural or play audiometry

Older infants and preschool children

Hearing levels through games, for example dropping a block when a sound is heard

Audiology clinics, depending on the child's age and cooperation

Pure Tone Audiometry

Usually school age onward

Full audiogram for each ear

PHS and other audiology clinics

Tympanometry

All ages

Fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear), eardrum movement

PHS and other audiology clinics

At PHS, children who can respond reliably are assessed with Pure Tone Audiometry, often as a listening game, together with tympanometry. For newborns and very young babies, OAE and ABR testing is done at hospital or ENT centres; bring those reports to us and we will take over the hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation. Our guide to hearing tests and reading an audiogram explains the results, and the types and degrees of hearing loss guide explains the terms on the report.

See an ENT doctor promptly if your child has ear discharge, ear pain with fever, a sudden drop in hearing, balance problems, or hearing change after meningitis. Hearing after meningitis should be tested urgently, as early action matters for implant candidacy.

How are hearing aids fitted for babies and children?

Children are usually fitted with behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids and soft custom ear moulds, programmed from their test results and re-checked often. Ear moulds are remade regularly as the ears grow.

  • BTE is preferred: it is robust, fits growing ears by simply changing the ear mould, suits a wide range of hearing loss and works with accessories used at school.

  • Custom ear moulds: made from an impression of the child's ear. Because ears grow quickly, moulds often need remaking every few months in the first years. A loose mould causes whistling (feedback) and loss of sound. See our ear moulds page.

  • Safety features: children's fittings use secure battery doors or rechargeable options on suitable models, plus retention clips so devices are not lost or swallowed.

  • Careful programming: settings are based on the child's thresholds and adjusted as more reliable test results become available with age.

  • Full-time use: the goal is hearing aids on during all waking hours, because the brain learns language from what it hears every day.

Parents often ask about cost and brand. PHS fits German original Signia hearing aids with the full manufacturer warranty and genuine Connexx programming, and also Rexton, Audio Service and ReSound. We do not dispense Chinese copies, which are especially unsuitable for children who need reliable sound every day. For budget guidance see our paediatric hearing aid cost guide. For severe to profound loss where hearing aids give limited benefit, we discuss cochlear implant assessment with an ENT team.


How can parents help a child learn to listen and talk with hearing aids?

Hearing aids give access to sound, but a child still has to learn to listen and talk. Consistent all-day wear and rich everyday talk at home turn that access into words, sentences and understanding.

Use everyday routines such as meals, bathing and play as language practice: name objects, describe what you are doing and give the child time to respond. Families in Pakistan often speak Urdu, a regional language and some English at home; a child with hearing loss can learn more than one language, and consistent, rich talk in the family's main language is the priority. Keep the hearing aids on during all waking hours, and tell the audiologist if progress seems slow, because it can mean the settings or ear moulds need adjusting.


How can parents and schools help a child with hearing loss?

Keep hearing aids on all day, check them daily, seat the child near the teacher, reduce background noise and make sure teachers understand the child's needs.

  • Daily listening check: make sure the device is on, charged or with a fresh battery, and the mould is clean and dry.

  • Seat the child near the teacher, away from fans, windows facing the road and noisy corridors.

  • Ask teachers to face the class when speaking and repeat classmates' answers.

  • Ask about remote microphone systems, which send the teacher's voice directly to the hearing aids on suitable models.

  • Keep a dry-storage box for monsoon humidity and dusty summer days.

  • Take spare batteries or a charged charger on school trips and during load-shedding.

  • Keep regular review appointments; hearing and ears change as children grow.

Our Blue Area clinic on Fazl-ul-Haq Road, Islamabad and our Saidpur Road clinic in Rawalpindi are open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Professional Hearing Solutions has 400+ Google reviews with a 4.9-star average. Families can book a hearing assessment for an older child, or bring hospital OAE/ABR reports to discuss fitting.


Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can a child get a hearing aid?

A baby can be fitted with hearing aids within the first months of life once hearing loss is confirmed, typically with ABR testing. International guidance recommends starting intervention by about 6 months. There is no minimum age; the earlier a child with permanent hearing loss hears speech, the better their chances of developing language close to their hearing peers.

My child's speech is late. Could it be hearing loss?

It could be. Hearing loss is one of the first things to rule out when speech is delayed, even if the child seems to respond to some sounds. Temporary glue ear after colds can also reduce hearing during key months. A hearing test, including tympanometry, gives a clear answer and shows what support the child needs.

Bachon ki sunne wali machine kaunsi behtar hai?

For most children, a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid with a soft custom ear mould is the safest and most practical choice. It is durable, easy to adjust as the child grows and works with school accessories. The exact model depends on the hearing test. PHS fits German original Signia devices with full manufacturer warranty, plus Rexton, Audio Service and ReSound.

How often do a child's ear moulds need replacing?

Young children's ears grow quickly, so ear moulds often need remaking every few months in the first years, and less often as the child gets older. Signs a mould is too small include whistling from the hearing aid, the mould slipping out, or redness in the ear. A well-fitting mould is essential for clear sound and comfort.

Is glue ear permanent hearing loss?

Glue ear (fluid behind the eardrum) usually causes temporary conductive hearing loss and often clears on its own, but it can last months and affect speech and schoolwork. Tympanometry shows a flat Type B result when fluid is present. Persistent glue ear should be reviewed by an ENT doctor, who may recommend monitoring, grommets or temporary hearing aids.

Can a child with hearing aids go to a normal school?

Many children with hearing aids attend mainstream schools and do well, especially when hearing loss is identified early and the hearing aids are worn consistently. Good seating, teacher awareness and, where suitable, a remote microphone system make a large difference. Children with severe or profound loss may need more specialised support, and the plan should be reviewed each year.

Does PHS do newborn hearing screening?

PHS performs Pure Tone Audiometry, speech audiometry and tympanometry, which suit older children and adults. Newborn and infant tests such as OAE and ABR are done at hospital or ENT audiology units. Families can bring those reports to PHS for paediatric hearing aid fitting, custom ear moulds, and follow-up programming in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Book Your Visit at Professional Hearing Solutions

Professional Hearing Solutions has served patients in Islamabad and Rawalpindi since 1999 as an authorised Signia hearing aid dealer, with 400+ Google reviews and a 4.9-star average. Book a hearing assessment or a hearing aid consultation at either clinic.

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