The foundations of speech are laid early in life. Even when children have not yet learned to speak, they are constantly listening. It is important that your child has access to speech and language and environmental sounds.
Within the first five months, babies learn to distinguish the different sounds of speech, encouraging babbling. At the end of the babbling phase, the child will experiment more with how he/she uses different words. This begins with single words, then two-word combinations, and then sentences.
For a child with hearing loss, extra attention and stimulation is needed to promote their speech and language development. It is also essential they wear their hearing aids as much as possible.1
Get chatty
The more speech and language your child is exposed to the better. Read story books, talk about daily activities, and ensure they are always close to you.
Mix it up and repeat
Use different words and grammar. If your child says something, expand it or repeat it with proper grammar. Use intonation to highlight the words you have changed.
Make music
Sing songs, recite rhymes, play singing games and make music and noise together using instruments or whatever is available.
Read books
Engage your child with questions and discussions while reading a book together. Read the same book multiple times.
Involve your body language and gestures
Use simple gestures with words. Remember to use body language as well.
Use objects
Use objects to spark conversations. Point out objects and name them.
Learn some useful communication habits and find out more about having a child with hearing loss.
Preschool aged children develop their speech and language skills by interacting with parents, family members, educators, and friends. They are also able to listen to others with interest and share and build their first friendships.
To help your child develop their language and inter-personal skills, help them participate when they want to. Supporting their speech and language development also helps develop social skills and communication. Empower them in relation to their hearing aids and their need for good communication by giving them responsibilities appropriate to their age and development.
Give your child responsibility for their hearing aids
By the age of four, children have finer motor control and can handle small objects. Under supervision, practice letting your child put their ear moulds in and take them out.
Incidental learning comes from hearing conversations that are not directed specifically to the child. It is a very important way that children learn.
However, children with hearing loss have a reduced ‘listening bubble’, meaning they are unable to overhear conversations going on around them beyond a few metres. This means they can lack the access to sounds necessary for incidental learning.
The size of a child’s listening bubble is based on his or her degree of hearing loss, and can be increased with consistent, daily use of amplification.2
Self-advocacy is stating what you need and sharing it with others. Practice with your child to develop this skill. Letting others know when your child is not hearing well and when their hearing aids are not working is very important for them to learn. Give your child the necessary communication tips – you can also hand them out to day care personnel.
Consistent hearing aid use is critical
To help your child develop and grow, it is important they use their hearing aids as much as possible.1 This might be challenging if your child doesn’t like wearing them. Your audiologist can help you come up with strategies to help keep them on your child’s ears.
Choose durable hearing aids
Ensuring your child wears their hearing aids as much as possible may occasionally mean they get damaged during physical activities, or lost while they’re out exploring the world. Just remember it is worth it – it will ensure your child’s brain gets the best possible conditions to develop.
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