That's a question facing many parents who are concerned that their child may have a hearing problem. Children do ignore their parents at times, of course, but there are other clues that can point to a hearing problem. Johns Hopkins audiologist Karin Young explains. If your child does not seem to respond if you are calling his or her name, you can't get their attention without them seeing you first, that can be a concern for you. If you haven't seen them startle to a loud sound or appear surprised by a loud sound that has startled other people, thunder or things in the neighborhood.
Kids get kind of focused sometimes when they hear sirens or fire engines or trucks go by.
If your child doesn't attend to those things, you might want to think about the possibility that he's not hearing as well as other kids. Young says children should be saying words by around age one, and simple phrases by age two. If speech is delayed beyond two, a hearing test should be considered. At the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, I'm Jack Sheehan reporting.