Warning Signs of Hearing Loss In Children & Ways Hearing Loss can impact speech and language development
- Lauren and Claudia Fri-Rod
- May 22
- 4 min read
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month and it’s a time with Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists nationwide raise awareness about communication disorders and highlight the importance of our professions. Hearing plays a critical role in speech and language development – and early hearing loss detection and treatment is extremely important for a child’s overall communication, development and academic success.
When families are concerned their child may have a speech or language delay, one of the very first questions a Speech Language Pathologist will ask a caregiver is how recently their child has had their hearing screened or tested. The reason behind this important question is because children with untreated and undetected hearing loss often have speech and language delays as one of the first noticeable signs. Because of Acquired Hearing Loss, many parents of infants and toddlers are unaware that their child even has hearing loss until they are referred to see a Speech Language Pathologist for communication and speech delays.
What is “Acquired Hearing Loss"?
You may be thinking, “My child passed their newborn hearing screening…their hearing is fine.” Acquired Hearing Loss occurs after birth and after children have likely already passed their newborn hearing screenings. This type of hearing loss can be triggered by an illness or injury, and some examples of common causes include:
Untreated, frequent or concurrent ear infections
Excessive noise exposure
Medications that may negatively affect the ear
Chicken Pox
Measles
How often should my child be tested for Hearing?
Newborn hearing screenings are mandatory, and hearing tests should occur within the first three months of a child’s life. If a child passes their Newborn hearing screening, the American Academy of Pediatrics then recommends that the child receive hearing tests at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months. Children should then receive hearing screenings annually, from the ages of 3 to 18 years old.
What are some warning signs of Hearing Loss in children?
We have briefly summarized some of the warning signs of hearing loss for children of all ages below, but for more detailed information visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Additionally, a child may not exhibit ALL of the signs or behaviors mentioned below. However, if a parent observes any of these symptoms, then a call to their Pediatricians office for a hearing screening is recommended.
Early warning signs of hearing loss in infants and toddlers (0-3 years):
Child is not responsive to sounds, voices or names (e.g. does not turn their head towards speakers)
Child does not appear to react to loud noises
Child is not cooing or babbling by 6 months of age
Child is not imitating sounds or words by 12 months of age
Child not gesturing (e.g. pointing or waving) by 12 months of age
Child is tilting their head or covering their ears frequently
Common warning signs of hearing loss in 4-5 year olds:
Articulation or speech delays
Difficulty understanding and following spoken directions
Often asking speakers to repeat what they said (e.g. “What?” or “Huh?”)
Watches TV or videos with a higher volume
Limited vocabulary
Difficulty forming complete sentences
Struggles to hold a conversation in noisy environment
Warning signs of hearing loss in School-Aged Children (6-12 years):
Difficulty understanding and following adult and teacher directions
Frequent headaches or fatigue
Reduced academic scores or grades
Complains of ear pain or discomfort
Reduced participation in classroom speaking tasks or conversations
Becomes easily frustrated or irritated
May avoid group conversations
Importance of Early Intervention for Speech and Language Outcomes:
Research shows that hearing loss (including temporary hearing loss) can negatively affect children by causing significant delays in their receptive and expressive communication skills. Language deficits and communication difficulties secondary to hearing loss can cause learning problems and reduced self-esteem. If your child has a hearing loss or a possible hearing loss, early intervention services (e.g. pediatric Audiology and Speech Language Pathology services) can have a lifelong impact on their overall communication skills, social development and self-esteem and their academic and vocational success.
What to do if you are concerned about your child’s hearing?
If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, we strongly recommend that you request a hearing test conducted by a licensed pediatric Audiologist. If your child has been diagnosed with hearing loss, we recommend that you contact a licensed Speech Language Pathologist to be part of your child’s multidisciplinary team.
Helpful online resources:
ABOUT US:
Sunny Spot Speech provides private speech therapy services and evaluations for kids in home, online, at your child's preschool, daycare, private school, or at another community location throughout Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. We have an incredible and growing team of bilingual (Spanish and English speaking) Los Angeles based Speech Language Pathologists who are knowledgeable in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of communicative disorders, including (but not limited to) children with Hearing Loss, AAC users, Fluency disorders, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Gestalt Language Processors, Language Disorders and Developmental Delays.
We are accepting new pediatric speech therapy clients in the following Los Angeles locations: Northridge, Granada Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Valley Village, Burbank, Calabasas.
Contact us for a free phone consultation if you’re concerned about your child’s speech, language or communication abilities: Phone: 818-350-3107 or Email: info@sunnyspotspeech.com.
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