Effects of Hearing Loss
The House Children’s Hearing Center provides access to early intervention, assistive technologies, therapies, and more, which all play a vital role in helping children with hearing loss thrive socially and academically.
According to the World Health Organization, 34 million children worldwide have hearing loss. Hearing Loss in children can have a significant effect on their social and educational development.
Educational Impact
Language and Speech Development: In the critical early years of language development, when children are building their vocabulary and grasping grammar rules, deaf and hard-of-hearing students may struggle to keep pace with their peers.
Academic Achievement: Even with hearing aids or assistive technologies, understanding complex concepts, following classroom lectures, and engaging in group discussions can be challenging.
Teacher-Student Communication: Teachers face the challenge of ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing students have equal access to education.
Social Impact
Communication Barriers: Children with hearing loss face challenges in tracking conversations, resulting in misunderstandings, isolation, and impaired social and classroom engagement.
Self-Esteem: Limited conversation engagement can diminish a child’s self-confidence, causing reluctance in interactions and resulting in exclusion and reduced self-esteem over time.
Bullying and Teasing: Unfortunately, children with hearing loss can be bullied due to differences, leading to emotional distress and isolation.
