Part 2: Common Questions Parents Ask About Childhood Hearing Loss
Thank you for joining us in part two of our “Common Questions Parents Ask About Childhood Hearing Loss” blog series. We at Professional Audiological Services sincerely hope this series shows parents of children with hearing loss they are not alone in their quest for answers. You can re-read part one here or contact us directly with further questions. Scroll down to learn the answers to our next set of common questions parents ask about childhood hearing loss.
- Could a hearing aid help my child? How so?
Yes, a hearing aid can assist an infant or child showing signs of mild hearing loss. Your audiologist will determine if this is the most appropriate course of action after testing is performed. Hearing aids can assist your child in hearing quiet and distant sounds/conversations. Once children are able to pick up sounds and conversations more clearly, you will most likely notice an improvement in their speech and language skills.
- How will I communicate with my child?
Communicating effectively with your child is dependent on both the type of hearing loss and your family’s preference. There are several ways you can communicate with your child. The types of communication include:
- American Sign Language (ASL) – Language visually “spoken” by signing with your hands
- Cued Speech – A visual communication system that merges a spoken language’s mouth movement with different hand shapes and locations
- Combined Communication Strategies – Combines both auditory and visual forms of language
- Auditory Oral – Method of teaching children to utilize the hearing they possess
- Auditory Verbal – Therapy used to train children to listen and speak by applying what usable hearing they possess
- How will the hearing loss affect my child’s speech and language development?
Hearing is critical to the development of language, speech, communication, and learning. However the earlier the hearing loss is identified and intervention begins, the less your child’s language and communication skills will be affected.
- Where can I learn more about hearing loss?
If you have questions, consult your audiologist first. This will be the most reliable resource for finding answers to your questions. If you’re only seeking general information or further reading material, there are certain websites you can utilize such as the ones listed below:
We hope you found the provided information useful. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions concerning childhood hearing loss or to schedule an appointment. Thanks for reading our blog series!
