For young children, language is one of the most important building blocks of their development. Learning to talk seems to come naturally: babbling turns into words, and before you know it they’re chatting whole sentences together. But what if this process doesn’t come naturally? A speech delay can have many causes, and hearing problems are an important one. After all, if a child can’t hear sounds or words well, how can they imitate them correctly?
In this blog, I explain how hearing problems play a role in speech delays, how to recognize them and most importantly, what you can do as a parent, caregiver or teacher to help a child.
How does the relationship between hearing and speech development work?
Language learning begins with listening. Babies hear their parents’ voices, the sounds of their surroundings and store this in their brains. By mimicking sounds, they learn to talk step by step. When there are hearing problems – temporary or permanent – a child misses crucial input. It’s like trying to put together a puzzle, but always missing a few pieces.
Hearing problems can lead to:
- Difficulty distinguishing sounds
- Delayed vocabulary development
- Unclear ruling
- Less self-confidence in communication
Causes of hearing problems in children
Not every hearing problem is the same. These are the most common causes in children:
Middle ear infections
Many children have frequent middle ear infection. This is often accompanied by fluid behind the eardrum, making sounds duller. This is also called “glue ear.
Earwax plug
Sometimes the cause is simple: too much earwax blocks the sound. However, never use a cotton swab to remove it. This often pushes the plug deeper into the ear and can damage the eardrum.
Congenital hearing impairment
A proportion of children are born with hearing loss. Thanks to newborn hearing screenings, this is usually detected quickly.
Temporary deafness from colds or allergies
A blocked Eustachian tube can cause sound to come in muffled. A nasal spray can help with this.
How do you recognize a speech delay due to hearing problems?
It can be difficult to distinguish between a child who just talks a little later and one who has hearing problems. Watch for these signs:
- Your child is unresponsive or late to sounds and voices
- It seems to have trouble following instructions
- There is frequent “huh?” or misunderstanding
- It uses fewer words than peers
- Verdict remains unclear, even in later life
In doubt? Trust your gut and get hearing tested.
What can you do as a parent or caregiver?
1. Have hearing tested
A hearing test at an audiologist or ENT specialist is the first step. The sooner you know what’s going on, the sooner you can intervene.
2. Take ear complaints seriously
Does your child often have ear infections or complain of ear pain? Always discuss this with your doctor.
3. Encourage language development intentionally
Talk a lot with your child, read books together and sing songs. Repetition and rhythm help tremendously in learning language.
4. Consider tools
For permanent hearing problems, a hearing aid or, in some cases, eardrum tubes may be a solution. This can restore speech development.
5. Speech Therapy
A speech therapist can do targeted work on pronunciation, vocabulary and listening skills. Especially when combined with hearing support, this can make a big difference.
The role of the school or shelter
Teachers and teaching assistants also play a major role. They see children daily in a social context and often notice when a child is behind in language or communication. Collaboration between parents, school and professionals is crucial.
Tips for the classroom or daycare:
- Provide a quiet listening environment
- Look closely at the child when you talk
- Repeat instructions and use visual support
- Give the child extra time to respond
What if you do nothing?
An untreated speech delay can have major consequences:
- Difficulty learning to read and write
- Problems with social interaction
- Reduced self-confidence
- Backlog in school that is difficult to make up
That’s why early intervention is so important.
Addressing hearing problems is saving speech development
A speech delay need not be permanent. Often it is a signal that there is more to it – hearing problems, for example. The earlier these are detected and treated, the more likely a child is to catch up with language and enjoy communicating again.
So do you notice that your child is less responsive to sound or talking, or that language development is slow? Don’t wait, get hearing tested. With the right guidance – from parents, school and professionals – a child can take a wonderful leap forward.
