Why Do Speech Therapy Screenings Often Include a Hearing Test?

Speech therapists are not just experts in verbal communication, but in all aspects of communication. Part of communication is hearing and listening. As it turns out, what a child hears affects their speech and communication drastically.

When a child is referred to a Speech-Language Pathologist for a screening, a hearing screening is an essential part of the process. Children who have difficulties with speech might be having an unrecognized hearing challenge that is the cause of their speech problems. Identifying when a child has a hearing loss early can help them avoid social, academic and behavioral problems.

How To Identify Hearing Loss in Children:

1. Sounds don’t get their attention.
2. They do not respond when you call their name (age 7 months+)
3. They do not follow simple directions (1-2 years)
4. Shows delays in speech and language development (birth – 3 years)
5. Grabs at, pulls, or scratches at their ears.
6. Struggles with academics, specifically math and reading.
7. Is unhappy at school or socially isolated.
8. Has persistent ear discomfort after exposure to loud noise.

Children with hearing loss can experience many challenges that are especially exacerbated if the problem is unrecognized or untreated. Hearing loss is treatable. An audiologist can help assess your child’s specific needs if they are indeed suffering from hearing loss. Sometimes hearing loss is temporary, sometimes it is permanent, an audiologist will assess which your child falls under. Hearing aids, cochlear implants or assistive listening devices can provide many benefits.

Hearing Loss & Speech Therapy

Where does speech therapy fit into hearing loss treatment? If your child is suffering from hearing loss that has affected their speech and language development, speech therapy is the best solution to improving those delays. A Speech-Language pathologist can improve their speech and understanding through a customized speech therapy program.

If your child is showing some signs of hearing loss or a speech and language disorder, we encourage you to seek out a hearing screening as soon as possible. If you’re not sure, Healthy Hearing provides a long list of signs of hearing loss in children of all ages.

At Child Language and Developmental Speech, we offer complete speech, language and hearing screenings to help determine the root cause of your child’s symptoms. Please contact us today or complete this form to get started. 704-845-0561