Hearing is a crucial part of child development, especially as it impacts language, learning, and social interaction. Hearing loss can be present at birth or acquired later due to illness, injury, frequent ear infections, or noise exposure. It can range from mild to profound and can be conductive, sensorineural, or mixed in nature. Due to newborn hearing screenings and better diagnostic tools, many children are caught early, but hearing loss can emerge or progress over time. With early identification, access to technology, and strong family and school supports, children with hearing loss can thrive academically and socially.
When hearing loss is left unaddressed, it can impact a child’s ability to meet speech and language milestones, follow classroom instruction, and develop relationships with their peers. Mild degrees of hearing loss can lead to missed sounds and words, affecting vocabulary and reading comprehension. In a noisy classroom, it can be challenging for children with hearing to stay engaged and keep up with their academics.
As soon as hearing loss is identified, children and their families should be connected with audiology, speech-language, and early education services. These kinds of supports are especially important in the first few years of life. Families of children with hearing loss may choose spoken language, sign language, or a combination of the two – the mode of communication should support building strong communication skills from an early age.
Support of a child with hearing loss requires a team effort: families, teachers, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals can work together. Families are strong advocates for children, teachers can support their students in the classroom, and audiologists can help with technology and monitoring hearing as the child grows older.
If you are a parent, educator, or professional who is supporting a child with hearing loss, check out the Hearing Loss Association of America and Hands and Voices for valuable resources and support networks. Together, we can ensure that children with hearing can reach their fullest potential.
