We have a genetive hearing problem in our family - 4 out of my 8 siblings (me included) developed it in our early twenties and it is progressive, getting worse as we age. I have a niece who was born with severe hearing problems. It is amazing to me what the doctors (hearing aids, etc) and schools have been able to do to help her communicate and function well in the hearing world. If it turns out that your son does have hearing loss and it’s not just fluids, talk to his doctors and reach out for all of the educational assistance there is out there - the earlier he starts the more natural it will all be for him.
One thing I have learned is how crucial a sense of humor is to a hard of hearing person. All the “problems” - the misunderstandings, miscommuincations, etc. are so much easier to deal with if you can laugh about it. Of the 4 of us that deal with this problem, the ones who can laugh at themselves about it are the ones who deal with it best and have it least effect their daily lives. It is very easy to become withdrawn when you are hard of hearing as the effort needed in social situations just sometimes feels like too much work - and if you don’t laugh about it then others around you can become awkward too. But if you can laugh about the misheard things instead of being embarrassed, somehow you become the life of the party and people enjoy interacting with you even when it is a little more difficult (The 4 of us have been known to have coversations not realizing we were talking about completely different subjects - and thoroughly enjoyed our afternoons of chatting LOL)
Seriously, I in no way mean to make light of this and hope that it just turns out to be fluid - but if not, remember that this is something than you can deal with and, though you may have to find different ways to help him this is a challenge he will be able to overcome. Thank goodness that they test for this so early now that children like your son can get the help they need before they become isolated and withdrawn.