There are many ways a child's hearing can be affected: youth sports, loud music, ear wax, and ear infections, to name a few.

Nicole Schott is someone who works to prevent those factors from harming a child's life.

Schott of Swift Audiology of Butler and the North Hills said it is critical for children to have their hearing checked right out of the womb.

“What we recommend as far as children, all newborns are screened as part of the newborn screening process,” she said.

From there, she emphasized the need for children with speech language delay to have their hearing evaluated.

How can you tell if your child is experiencing hearing difficulties?

“The first thing would be frequent repetition, if they're not responding to their name or asking parents to repeat,” Schott said. “Or if they're unable to localize where a sound is coming from.”

But, children with noticeable hearing difficulties aren't the only ones who should be screened.

“Every child should be screened starting in kindergarten,” Schott said.

Typically, children will be screened annually from kindergarten through third grade, and then again in seventh grade and in junior year of high school.

If there is an issue, parents or guardians of the child are encouraged to follow up with an audiologist for an evaluation.

Audiologist Lisa Chandonais of the Cranberry Hearing and Balance Center said the most common reason for her practice to see a child is a middle ear infection. She checks the child's ear through otoscopy of the ear, which is a painless procedure in which a lighted scope is placed in the ear canal to see the middle ear.

If she determines an infection is present, she uses tests to determine if any hearing loss is present.

“Once the tests are completed, I talk with the family about recommendations, which usually include a follow-up with an ear, nose and throat doctor,” Chandonais said.

She also makes recommendations on any corrective interventions that may be required, such as hearing aids.

There are ways to prevent and monitor some hearing loss. When a child has a concussion, from sports or otherwise, a hearing loss evaluation should follow the medical evaluation.

Musicians, especially percussionists, should wear musicians' ear plugs.

Swimmers should be efficient in treating swimmer's ear because while it won't cause permanent hearing loss, it will be uncomfortable.

Another potential cause of hearing problems was once thought to be beneficial: earbuds as an alternative to headphones.

“Technically both have the potential to cause hearing loss,” Schott said. “The initial thought was if (earbuds) were inserted deep, they would block the outside sound and people could listen at a softer level. Studies are finding people are listening at the same level, but the sound pressure is higher because we're listening at the same level.”

However, developments in technology have been more hearing friendly. Portable devices such as cell phones and iPods have volume limits.

“Some of the new iPods have settings where you can set an alert when you're listening to it at a dangerous level, so we do recommend that parents set it so that it won't go over that level,” Schott said.

Chandonais also said a definite danger to youth is listening to loud music or other sounds through earphones.

“That can deliver a high sound pressure level to the ear,” Chandonais said.

She said listening to loud sounds through earphones over time can damage the hair cells in the cochlea, which is an inner ear organ that detects sound.

She said once the damage is done to the hair cells, there is no way to repair them.

Chandonais said there are ways to protect those hair cells. The first step is for parents to talk to children about monitoring their listening behavior on various devices.

“Explain to them to keep the volume down to a comfortable level,” she said.

She said another important lesson for children is that if they know they will be exposed to loud sounds, to cover their ears with their hands.

“It's truly just about prevention and preparedness,” Chandonais said.