Healthy Habits - Hearing and Speech Delays

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and a new poll from ASHA, a leading organization in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology, shows some compelling statistics that emphasize the significance of this month, particularly for children:

• 34% report seeing more children with delayed diagnosis of hearing loss and 36% report more children with untreated (persistent) ear infections.
• 84% report more children with emotional or behavioral difficulties; 79% report more children with delayed language or diagnosed language disorders; and 78% report more children with social communication difficulties than before the pandemic.

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

What factors are contributing to the rise in hearing and speech delays?

American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) conducted a poll of its members in the winter of 2022 to see what they were experiencing with children birth to five years of age. Over 1000 members responded. Results from the survey showed an increase in referrals for hearing, speech, and language concerns over the past two years, along with greater behavioral and social difficulties for this population of children. A majority of the speech language pathologists reported more children from birth to five with delayed speech and language and social communication difficulties since the pandemic. The result of this poll coincides with national studies that have shown a trend in academic delays and an increase in behavioral and mental health difficulties in school-age children post pandemic. More isolation and limited interactions during the pandemic most likely contributed to this uprise in these communication and behavioral difficulties. However, there could be a multifold of factors contributing to this increase such as delayed exposure to formal preschool/daycare, delayed referrals to specialists, family stress, increased use of technology, lack of awareness of the early signs of a delay/disorder/hearing loss and many other related influences.

 

What are some things that parents and caregivers should watch out for with hearing and speech delays?

It is important to note that communication delays/disorders are among the most common difficulties among children. So, it is important to know the signs. Early identification signs of a communication delay may include:

Does not interact or smile with others (birth and older)

Does not babble (4-6 months)

Makes limited sounds (7-9 months)

Independently says only a few words (19 months-2 years)

 

Early signs of hearing difficulties are:

Does not startle to loud sounds (birth – 3 months)

Does not turn their head to the sound source (6 months)

Does not respond when their name is called (13-18 months)

Responds to some sounds and not others

Parents and caregivers can improve their awareness of hearing, speech and language development by visiting the site https://identifythesigns.org/. Here information can be found on the signs of hearing loss and speech-language delays, along with resources for families to help with the development of communication skills with their children.

 

How can families find the right speech language pathologist for their kids?

If a parent or caregiver suspects that their child has a hearing/speech/language problem, they should seek help right away.

For young children, connect with your local early intervention program or a local private clinic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a website where you can locate contact information for the early intervention program in your state. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/state-text.html.

In addition, ASHA’s website https://identifythesigns.org/ provides a directory of audiologists and speech language pathologists that provide services in your area.

If your child is school age, it is best to seek services through your local public school system.

As was mentioned previously, if you are unsure if your child is experiencing hearing difficulties or speech/language problems, it is best to have your child tested. As we tell parents and caregivers, trust your gut.  There is no negative consequence in seeking an evaluation by a professional audiologist or speech language pathologist. If nothing is found, this will help ease your mind. And if a difficulty is identified, it can be addressed with intervention. It is never too late to seek help or start intervention for a communication difficulty.