Hearing Loss and Speech Disorders in Children

In order to improve upon hearing and speech, it is important to be able to recognize indications of hearing, language, and speech disorders at an early age. Seeing these symptoms in children are not always clear. It would be advised to keep the following signs in mind:

Language Disorder
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• No smiling or communication with other individuals (birth and older)
• No babbling (4 - 7 months)
• Only produces a small number of sounds or gestures (7 - 12 months)
• Cannot comprehend what is being said by others (7 months - 2 years)
• Only speaks a few words (12 - 18 months)
• Language is not easily comprehended (18 months - 2 years)
• Cannot arrange words to create sentences (1.5 - 3 years)
• Has difficulty interacting and conversing with other children (2 - 3 years)

Speech Disorder​

• Inaccurately pronounces b, h, m, p, and w in words (1 - 2 years)
• Inaccurately pronounces d, f, g, k, n, and t in words (2 - 3 years)
• Delivers ambiguous speech (2 - 3 years)
• Repetition of sounds for the beginning of a word - “c-c-c-cat” for “cat”
• Breaks in speech while attempting to pronounce a word - “--boy” for “boy”
• Elongated sounds - “ppppp-plane” for “plane”
• Displays frustration when trying to pronounce words

Hearing Loss​

• Displays absence of attention to sounds (birth - 1 year)
• Lack of response when the child’s name is called (7 months - 1 year)
• Does not follow directions (1 - 2 years)
• Displays a delay in speech and language growth (birth - 3 years)  
• Tugs or scratches his/her ears
• Struggles with academic performance, mainly with math and reading
• Experiences social isolation and is depressed in school

It is important to consider these signs in children during their early stages of development. Early detection can make it easier for your child to learn how to speak, use sign language, or manage their hearing loss with hearing aids. If you have children, or grandchildren, who have shown any of these symptoms please contact us for a free hearing test and consultation.   

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