A child with hearing loss may struggle to learn in ways that their peers with normal hearing will not. Whether you’re a concerned parent or a teacher at Eastgate Elementary School, it’s essential to be aware of these challenges as well as what signs to look out for.
Speech and Language Problems Common with Hearing Loss
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 88% of students who have speech or language impairments spend most of their school day in a general classroom. Many children with hearing loss experience delays in their speech and language development.
In general, children with hearing loss:
- Tend to learn words slower than those with normal hearing
- Have trouble knowing the different meanings of words
- Experience difficulty understanding complex sentences
- Struggle to gauge the volume of their voice when they speak
- Have more trouble learning to read
- Inappropriately respond to questions because they misunderstood them
Hearing Loss Can Cause Confusion at School
Even mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss things at school. They may not hear instructions if a teacher has their back to them or is speaking quickly. Depending on the severity of their hearing loss, they may miss intercom announcements, alarms for fire drills or other types of instructions and be unsure how to act.
A child with hearing loss may often seem like they are daydreaming or not paying attention in class when in reality, they just don’t hear what is going on.
Hearing Difficulties Make Building Friendships Harder
Young people with hearing loss can also have a more challenging time communicating and building friendships, which is a crucial part of learning and development. They may try to mimic their peers or pretend to understand what is being said, leading to misunderstandings and confusion.
If children struggle to build relationships, they can feel sad and isolated. This may cause them to withdraw or become uninterested in school and in some cases, cause them to act out in class or at home.
Hearing Aids Can Improve Your Child’s Learning Abilities
If you suspect that either your child or a child in your class is having hearing difficulties, it’s important that they have a hearing test as soon as possible. If hearing loss is discovered, it will likely be treated with hearing aids.
Hearing aids can improve their speech and language development and overall learning ability, as well as increase their confidence in social situations at school.
If you have additional questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your child, call Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic today.