Parents and guardians are vital in the diagnosis and management of hearing loss in children. If hearing loss goes unnoticed or untreated, the development of a child's speech and language skills can be adversely affected.

While most hearing difficulties can be identified at the newborn stage, some children only begin to show symptoms later, when speech and language issues appear. These can include difficulty learning new words, understanding speech, paying attention, reading, regulating behaviour and using correct grammar - and sometimes difficulty making friends and interacting with others. If these symptoms arise in your child, book them in for a hearing test so the degree of hearing loss can be assessed.

Where noise exposure is concerned, the most useful thing you can do is limit how much loud sound your child is exposed to. Keep the TV at a reasonable volume, make sure they wear hearing protection in noisy environments such as concerts or events with fireworks, and teach them early about hazardous sounds.

See our earplugs for children, or read more on teaching your kids healthy hearing. If you have concerns about your child's hearing, speak to an audiologist or your GP.