Child may speak very softly. Learning problems become apparent to teachers, but not hearing problems. Reading skills significantly impacted with the child unable to tell that certain consonant sounds are present. Often confused with ADD and ADHD children, child has difficulty following directions, doesn't complete assignments, and difficulty sustaining attention to a teacher's oral presentations. The child will frequently ask for repetition of directions, may respond inappropriately, be impulsive and doesn't seem to listen.
Self concept begins being affected.
The child often does not know they can not hear well. School hearing screening programs often miss a child with this degree of hearing loss. Child may speak very softly. Child begins to lose ability for selective hearing and has increasing difficulty suppressing background noise which makes learning environment stressful. These appalling facts are due to allergies, colds, and undetected permanent hearing loss.