Hearing lays the foundation for communication and helps children learn to interact with the world. It also plays a pivotal role in speech development and social education, which is a critical part of learning in a classroom setting.
Recognizing the Signs of Hearing Loss in Children
Symptoms of childhood hearing loss vary by age group. It’s important to know how to spot the early signs so you can seek support as soon as possible to access proper treatment.
Your child may present the following symptoms if they have hearing loss:
Newborn to six months old:
- Lack of response to voices
- Doesn’t turn their head in response to sounds
- Doesn’t coo or babble by three months
- Isn’t startled by loud noises
Six to 12 months old:
- Doesn’t turn toward sound sources
- Unresponsive to their name and familiar voices
- Can’t imitate sounds
- No reaction to music or toys that make noise
One to four years old:
- Can’t produce words like “mama” or “dada” by 12 months
- Can’t follow verbal commands without visual cues
- Limited vocabulary
- Delayed speech development
- Can’t form short sentences
- Incomprehensible speech sounds
5 years and older:
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty in school
- Trouble following conversations
- Speaking loudly
- Struggling to make friends
- Asking others to repeat themselves
The Role of Hearing Aids in Early Childhood Education
Classrooms, especially those full of young children, can be noisy. If your son or daughter has hearing loss, they may find school a particularly challenging listening environment that affects their ability to retain information.
Hearing aids can provide your child with the auditory support they need to stay engaged and participate in lessons. Modern hearing aids not only offer sound enhancement and clarity but also treble and bass adjustment so your child can get used to their devices. Hearing devices equip your son or daughter to engage different parts of their brain and learn through participation.
Supporting Language and Communication Skills
Children usually acquire language skills through imitation, but hearing loss makes it difficult to develop them. Hearing aids make it easier for your child to understand words during early childhood. That allows them to imitate speech sounds so they can learn correct pronunciation and continue to build their vocabulary. Using new words in conversations also enhances their understanding of sentence structure.
Strong communication can boost your son’s or daughter’s confidence, so they may feel more comfortable asking their teacher for help. Wearing hearing aids allows them to better comprehend educational concepts, build relationships and make friends, too.
Hearing Aids and Classroom Performance
Reduce learning barriers: Your child will be able to hear different auditory cues that are essential in a learning environment, including announcements, instructions and alarms. That can reduce confusion and enhance their awareness and safety.
Communication with instructors: Hearing aids come with different compatible accessories that provide further sound clarification. Remote and table mics allow your child to hear their instructor, follow directions and concentrate, even in the noisiest classroom.
Reduced cognitive strain: While hearing happens in the ears, it’s the brain that processes sound. Hearing loss forces the brain to work harder to fill the gaps. Untreated hearing loss can increase their cognitive load, requiring their brain to work harder to interpret sounds. Wearing hearing aids reduces that strain so they can focus.
Interactions with classmates: Conversing with their peers and joining group activities allow your child to participate in positive social interactions. Those exchanges also support emotional growth and maturity.
Why Early Intervention Matters
The earlier your child receives hearing loss treatment, the more likely they are to experience a positive outcome. Your son or daughter will receive a hearing screening after they’re born and before they start school. It’s important to continue to monitor for signs of auditory issues and seek a second opinion if you still suspect your child has hearing loss. Eliminating auditory barriers allows your child to be present in the classroom and enjoy their academic journey.
Empowering Children with Hearing Loss to Succeed
Bring your child to a team of experts that specializes in childhood auditory conditions. You can rely on Hearing Associates to provide your son or daughter with the testing and treatment services they need to start their journey to better hearing. Contact us to learn about our hearing aid services and schedule an appointment today.