Otitis Media can cause hearing loss.
Otitis Media can significantly reduce children’s ability to hear clearly. Hearing loss from Otitis Media can be:
- temporary – children with Otitis Media can experience fluctuating, mild to moderate hearing loss; or
- permanent – severe Otitis Media can cause permanent hearing loss in children.
Hearing loss can have a lifelong impact on children. Hearing loss can affect:
- children’s speech, language and learning;
- their social, physical and emotional development; and
- their long-term education and employment opportunities.
If parents and carers are worried that kids are not hearing well, they should take them to see a health worker, nurse or doctor.
Children usually show some signs of hearing loss. For example, babies and young children with normal hearing should:
- react to loud, unexpected noises;
- turn their head to follow noise;
- respond to familiar voices;
- be able to locate and move towards noise; and
- hear barking dogs, cars and sirens.
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Older kids with normal hearing in a family setting should:
- respond when they are called from behind or from another room;
- be aware of signs of danger (hear cars before crossing the road, hear sirens);
- not be asking “What?” all the time or asking for things to be repeated; and
- not need to turn the TV up loud.

