Understanding Hearing Loss & Speech Therapy
When we think of speech therapy, what comes to mind? We may think of a child working on using verbs in sentences. Another child may be working on clear articulation of their “r'“ sound. Many of our thoughts are related to verbal speech therapy goals. How does hearing factor into speech therapy then? Hearing is a huge part of our understanding and use of speech! From the second a child is a born, they are exposed to all kinds of sounds. This can be hearing their parent’s voice, a sibling rattling with toys, or music in a car ride. These sounds are part of the foundations for understanding speech sounds.
Children begin to associate sounds speech sounds with the talker. They begin to recognize the difference between one voice from another’s. Oftentimes, verbal speech is paired with gestures. The child continues to make connections between verbal and nonverbal language with the help of their hearing. If a child is suspected to have hearing loss, they are missing out on key auditory input that supports their use and understanding of language.
What should I do if I suspect my child has hearing loss?
If you suspect your child has hearing loss, visit your child’s pediatrician, and they can screen your child for hearing loss. If more evaluations are recommended, your child may see an audiologist who specializes in hearing to determine the type and severity of hearing loss. Devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or personal amplifiers may be recommended to support your child’s hearing. Once a child’s hearing has been addressed by specialized professionals, a speech-language evaluation can be completed.
What is the role of speech-language pathologists treating children with hearing loss?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can provide comprehensive care for children and their families with hearing loss. SLPs are integral in helping children with hearing loss reach their full communication potential, whether through spoken language, sign language, or a combination of modalities. Depending on the unique needs of the client and their family, skills relating to articulation, auditory training, language therapy, or social communication skills may be focused on during treatment to maximize a client’s communication.
Articulation: Focusing on clear production of sounds
Auditory Training: Interpreting and distinguishing the sounds heard
Language Therapy: Spoken and/or signed language exposure to vocabulary, grammar, and understanding of language
Social Communication: Interacting with peers, understanding nonverbal communication, and conversational skills.
How can families be involved in their child’s care?
We always encourage our families to be active in their child’s goals and progress. We are always happy to provide parent-education on current strategies to use at home to support speech and language skills beyond the clinic doors. Our hope is to work as a team with you and your child to provide the best care possible. After each session, we invite parents to chat with our clinicians to understand what was worked on in the session, what to work on during the week, and what we plan to do in the future. We encourage families input and questions so our team can best provide your family.
