Does Your Child have Hearing Loss, ADD, or ADHD?

If you have a child or grandchild who struggles with focus and completing tasks, you may want to consider getting them tested for both attention-deficit disorder (ADD), and hearing loss. The symptoms of these two conditions are similar, and a child can have both.

Learn more about ADD

You have probably heard of ADD at least once in your life. It’s defined as a set of behaviors, which do not have any known cause and no definitive physical tests. Symptoms of ADD can imitate other health problems like hearing loss.

Children who have ADD may be prone to impulsive behavior, grapple with concentrating during class, substandard skills in organization, may not attempt tasks that demand prolonged periods of mental exertion, and become quickly distracted more than their classmates.        

Children with a similar disorder known as attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) - may also appear to be restless, and attempt to take on multiple tasks at the same time.

Adults and children grapple with these skills, but if they have conduct that is worse than their peers, this could mean that they have ADD or ADHD.

Is it Hearing Loss, Is it ADD or ADHD, or Is it a Learning Disorder

There has been a rise in the number of people who were diagnosed with ADHD within the past few decades. This could imply that there are some misdiagnoses or possible overlap with hearing loss that also increases.

About 3 out of 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with measurable hearing loss in one or both ears. Hearing loss, whether mild or severe, can lead to learning difficulties. A child with any range of hearing loss can miss at least 50 percent of conversations and lectures that occur in school. 

Here are some examples of how hearing loss may be mistaken for ADHD:
​

• Academic difficulties
• Improper responses to questions
• Inattentiveness
• Misbehaving
• Not responsive when being addressed
• Poor self-esteem
• Struggling to socialize with others 
  
  

A child with any of these symptoms could be diagnosed with a learning disability when they actually have hearing loss. 

Children who have ADHD typically only have normal language development in speech that is at the same level as their peers. On the other hand, children with untreated hearing loss may lag in these areas.

There’s a chance that a child could have both conditions, but an accurate assessment is needed to avoid unneeded medication and find the best methods to help the child achieve in the classroom.  

Getting treatment for hearing loss will significantly make a positive difference in a child’s life, whether or not they have ADHD.

It can be tricky to distinguish the difference between hearing loss and ADHD. Hearing loss can feel like not being able to hear someone in a conversation where entire words or parts of words are spliced out. It can be difficult to sustain your attention when most of the information is unclear. This is why hearing loss can sometimes be mistaken for ADHD.

ADHD Diagnosis can Help

A proper diagnosis for ADHD can help determine the right course of action for a child.

Children who have hearing loss and ADHD, generally get their hearing tested first. 

ADHD is diagnosed through behavioral and psychological symptoms while answering a series of questions that can be subjective.  

A Delay in Language Acquisition
​
Some children who have hearing loss may also experience a setback in their development of speech. Unless there is an early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment with hearing aids and speech therapy sessions, there’s a high chance that they will fall behind their peers in this realm.

If your child is struggling in school and you suspect that hearing loss may be the problem, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  

contact us