Hearing Loss and Speech Delay in Children

Hearing loss is a partial or total loss of the ability to hear. This can be temporary or permanent, and it can happen in one or both ears. Hearing loss is a common cause of delayed speech development in children.

Speech refers to the way sounds and words are made when talking. Children must be able to hear others and themselves talk in order to develop speech and language skills. Common causes of hearing loss that may affect your child’s speech development include:

• Too much wax or fluid in the ear over a long period of time.
• Frequent ear infections.
• Injury to the ear or the area surrounding the ear.
• An object stuck in the ear.
• Prolonged exposure to loud sounds, such as music.

How can hearing loss affect my child’s speech development?

Having good hearing is important for developing speech skills. If your child has hearing loss, he or she may:

• Not develop speech or language by age 18–24 months.
• Not learn or understand enough words (poor vocabulary development).
• Use or understand only short, simple sentences.
• Speak too loudly or too softly.
• Avoid speaking.
• Not say certain words or sounds when speaking. This may include:
  • Certain sounds, such as “s,” “ch,” “t,” or “k.”
  • Words that connect other words together, such as “and,” “are,” “a,” and “the.”
  • Word endings, such as plural “s,” past tense “ed,” “t,” or “p.”
• Be unable to listen to and understand stories, answer questions, follow instructions, or keep up at school (not perform at grade level).

What actions can I take to lower my child’s risk of speech delay?

Preventive care and treatment

• Watch for signs that may indicate that your child is having trouble hearing, such as:
  • Symptoms of an ear infection. Symptoms may include ear pain, rubbing or pulling at the ears, dizziness or loss of balance, or fluid draining from the ears.
  • Not responding to or understanding sounds or speech spoken at a normal volume.
• Have your child get hearing tests (hearing screenings) as often as recommended. Hearing screenings are often offered by schools, community centers, and your child’s health care provider.
• If directed, work with a health care provider who specializes in:
  • Ear structure and function (otologist).
  • Hearing problems (audiologist).
  • Speech and language development (speech-language pathologist).
• Start treatment for hearing loss and speech problems as early as possible. Starting treatment early can help prevent or reduce speech delay. Treatment may include:
  • Hearing aids.
  • A hearing device that is implanted into the inner ear (cochlear implant) to help your child hear sounds more clearly.
  • A program (aural rehabilitation) to educate you and your family about hearing loss and to help you understand your role in your child’s long-term treatment.
• Take steps to prevent hearing loss from getting worse:
  • Get medical treatment for your child’s ear infections right away.
  • Keep your child away from loud noises and secondhand smoke.
  • Monitor the volume on electronic devices that your child uses.
  • Encourage your child to use ear plugs or noise-reducing headphones when listening to music or playing video games on electronic devices.
  • Make sure that your child is up to date with his or her vaccines.

Helping your child learn

• Help your child learn at home. This may involve:
  • Helping your child learn new words.
  • Reading to your child.
  • Doing activities recommended by your child’s speech-language pathologist to encourage learning.
• Work closely with your child’s health care providers and teachers to find out what services your child’s school provides to help your child. This may include developing an education program for your child (Individualized Education Program, IEP).

Where to find support

To find support for preventing speech delay due to hearing loss:

• Talk with your child’s health care providers and teachers. Ask about hearing screenings and support services.
• Consider having your child join an online or in-person support group.
• Find other parents of children with hearing loss or speech delay through the Hearing Loss Association of America: www.hearingloss.org  

Seek Additional Information

Learn more about speech delay due to hearing loss from:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: www.asha.org  
• Hearing Loss Association of America: www.hearingloss.org  
• Center for Parent Information and Resources: www.parentcenterhub.org  
• KidsHealth: kidshealth.org  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov  
• Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss: successforkidswithhearingloss.com  

Summary

• Hearing loss is a common cause of delayed speech development in children. Children must be able to hear others and themselves talk in order to develop speech and language skills.
• Have your child get hearing screenings as often as directed.
• Starting treatment early can help prevent or reduce speech delay.
• Find out what services your child’s school provides to help your child, such as developing an IEP.