“Turn down that TV!” “Are you listening to me?” Just two of many common phrases you hear in households these days.

While parents may think it’s just kids being kids, there could be a more serious problem. “There are a lot of negative things that can happen from hearing loss, “explains Dr. James Newlon, an ear, nose and throat specialist on the medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.

He says parents need to pay attention to the warning signs. “The parents may think the child is ignoring them or they may have the TV volume turned way up,” he adds. They could be doing poorly in school. Even their speech can be impacted. “Some parents would say, ‘oh, that’s strange. Little Johnny isn’t really talking that well, he’s three now and he doesn’t have a big vocabulary’. Oftentimes, its not because he’s not smart, its because he can’t hear,” says Dr. Newlon.

Your child’s doctor can check to see if there is fluid build-up in the ear and may even prescribe antibiotics or hearing tubes to correct the issue. Just don’t ignore the situation. Hearing problems can lead to breathing difficulties, hypertension, even heart problems.