While children with mild to severe hearing loss are challenged with poorer language development than their hearing peers, fitting these youngsters with hearing instruments helps them overcome these deficits. According to a first-of-its-kind, large-scale study involving children ranging in age from six months to seven years old who experienced mild to severe hearing loss, those fitted early with hearing instruments were able to “catch up or significantly close the gaps with their hearing peers.” The earlier the children were provided hearing instruments, and the more consistently they wore them, the better able they were to take advantage of the rich linguistic environment around them and better develop the language skills needed for learning, speech, and socialization.
If you believe your child has a hearing loss, it’s important to begin intervention as quickly as possible. Even a few months can be a major delay when it comes to the rapidly changing brain of a child. Studies show that early intervention can help improve language development, increase academic success and enhance lifetime opportunities. To schedule a hearing assessment, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. It is important to note that three-quarters of the children with hearing loss in the study mentioned above were identified through newborn hearing screenings.
