Can Childhood Hearing Loss Affect Language Development?

Very young children learn speech almost entirely by hearing and imitating the speech of others. Anything which interferes with their ability to hear that speech will necessarily disrupt their learning and development.

Over the years, studies have successfully established a strong relationship between hearing impairment and vocabulary development in children. According to one report, children with mild to moderate hearing loss develop 50% less vocabulary than their peers with normal hearing. However, timely treatment can decrease this risk, as research shows that early intervention can significantly improve vocabulary development. This blog will provide an in-depth analysis of hearing loss and how hearing loss affects speech and language development.

How Hearing Loss Impacts Children’s Speech and Language Development

Hearing loss early in a child's life can seriously affect his or her speech and language development. Therefore, the earlier the problem is identified and corrected, the less serious the impact.The major effects of hearing loss in children include:

• Delay in developing speech and language skills.
• Language deficiency-related learning problems which result in negative outcomes in academics.
• Communication deficits which can lead to social isolation and poor self-esteem.
• Negative impact on vocational choices.

Let’s examine these aspects in detail:

• Vocabulary Difficulties

  Children with hearing impairment tend to have difficulty learning more complex words. Simple words like “cat”, “jump”, “five”, and “red” may be learned more easily than words like “before”, “after”, “equal”, and “jealous”. Because of this, the gap between children with normal hearing abilities and those with hearing impairment broadens with age.

• Speech Difficulties

  Hearing impairment may make it difficult for children to hear certain speech sounds such as "s", "sh", "f", "t", and "k". Words which heavily depend upon these sounds are therefor more difficult to understand, and are then not repeated or pronounced correctly. Also, children with hearing loss may not hear their own voices accurately, making self-correction difficult or impossible.

• Poor Academic Performance

  Hearing loss makes it difficult for children to excel academically. As they struggle with what can seem to others like relatively simple concepts, they soon fall behind, and as the subjects become more complex, lost ground becomes increasingly difficult to make up.

• Social Functioning

  Children with severe hearing impairment often feel isolated, withdrawn, and unhappy. As a result, their socialization with other children with normal hearing can be limited.

Social Impact of Hearing Impairment on Child Development

Hearing impairment can have a significant impact on a child's social development. When a child constantly struggles with speech and language, difficulties in expressing themselves and interacting with others can be expected.

• Hearing impairment can isolate children from social affairs, as they feel they are in no position to compete or perform with their normal peers. Therefore, they lose interest and avoid social gatherings.
• Hearing loss can make children self-conscious, especially about hearing aids or other assistive devices.
• Children with hearing loss may have significant difficulties expressing feelings, problems, and needs to loved ones.

Tips for Parents and Caregivers: Nurturing Children with Hearing Impairment

• Early detection and intervention is crucial for children with hearing impairment. It is important to get your child's hearing checked regularly, and if any hearing loss is detected, professional help should be sought out as early as possible.
• Learning sign language along with your child may help them communicate effectively. This will also enable you to communicate with your child even in noisy environments.
• Visual aids like pictures, diagrams, and videos can help children understand concepts and ideas, making learning more accessible.
• Speak clearly when you talk to your child. Avoid screaming or speaking too loudly, as this can cause distorted speech which is more difficult to understand.
• Hearing aids, implants, and assistive listening devices can help your child hear better.
• Strong support from parents, teachers, and peers can play a key role in building your child’s confidence. They can provide a safe environment where your child can express themselves.

Final Thoughts

Hearing loss in children can be congenital, or can develop later and progress with time. It can have a severe negative impact on children’s psychological and emotional health and affect children’s speaking and language development, making it difficult to perform well academically. Therefore, through early intervention, you can give your child a safe and secure environment where they can communicate confidently.

Hoffmann Audiology - one stop for your kid's hearing impairment

Is your child facing hearing issues? Don't ignore them. Hoffmann Audiology can diagnose and treat hearing loss in children as young as five years. Our specialists provide excellent solutions to help your child with hearing problems and ensure that they are confident in themselves. Contact us and book your appointment.