Which of the following is listed as a possible hearing problem?

• A. Poor speech, omits sounds, loud voice; does not understand directions; does not answer when called; trouble paying attention in large group activities; often gives wrong answers; avoids playing with other children; becomes tired early in day.
• B. Excellent hearing; always understands directions.
• C. Visual confusion only.
• D. No issues with hearing.

Answer: (A)

Signs of a possible hearing problem in a child include difficulty understanding spoken language, not responding when called, and heightened effort or fatigue from listening. In this scenario, the child’s poor speech with omitted sounds and a loud voice can indicate they’re trying to hear themselves or communicate despite not hearing clearly. Not understanding directions and not answering when called are direct clues that spoken input isn’t being perceived reliably. Trouble paying attention in large group activities and giving wrong answers can stem from missing parts of what’s being said, and becoming tired early in the day often reflects the extra strain of listening. Taken together, these patterns point to a potential hearing issue.

Descriptions of excellent hearing, only visual confusion, or no issues at all don’t fit these symptoms, so they don’t align with the signs shown here.