Every so often, you'll see a special column in this newsletter called Specialists' Scoop. This highlights some of the related services our school provides and some tips for supporting students at home. This Scoop was written by Ms. Kari, our Speech/Language Pathologist.
Hearing and Speech
Kari A. Lyden, M.S., CCC-SLP - Licensed Speech/Language Pathologist
Hearing is one of the most important parts of speech and language development. When an infant or child has difficulty hearing, they are missing out on sounds that will help them to learn and understand spoken language. This can lead to later problems such as delayed speech and language skills, learning difficulties in school, and issues with self-esteem and social skills.
Children with hearing loss:
➤ Have difficulty learning words
➤ Understand and use shorter sentences
➤ Have trouble hearing endings of words (like -s or -ed, as in “cats” or “walked”)
➤ Have difficulty using “quiet” speech sounds like s, sh, f, t, or k
➤ May not speak clearly
➤ May not hear themselves when they are talking (so they may speak too loud or too soft, or they may mumble or sound different)
➤ May have difficulty making friends because hearing loss can make it harder for
them to talk to or play with other kids
➤ Often have difficulty in school, and do not catch up to peers without
help/support both at home and at school.
The most important thing you can do is to have your child’s hearing screened. This can be done by your pediatrician. It’s also important to follow up with any additional testing that is recommended (such as with an audiologist), and share results with your child’s school and school nurse so they can best support your child in school.
Adapted from:
Effects of Hearing Loss on Development
