FORT WAYNE, Indiana, Aug. 10, 2021— As children and families prepare to head back to school for the year, there’s one more thing they should consider adding to their checklist: a hearing test.
“If your child was struggling in school last year or shows signs that they may have trouble hearing, it’s a great idea to have their hearing checked,” said Dr. Charlotte Thompson, Au.D.
Because of virtual school options, it’s possible that mild to moderate hearing difficulty went unnoticed in 2020.
“If a student had full control of how loud or soft they were able to playback their classroom online, they have been able to more easily adapt to a hearing loss,” said Thompson. “Now that most schools are going back to in person, they will have less control of how they take in information and may begin to struggle.”
There are several signs that you should have a child’s hearing checked:
1. Slipping grades or struggling in school
2. Your child seems to hear fine some of the time and not respond other times, or frequently asks you to repeat things
3. Your child plays the TV or music more loudly
4. If it seems like your child can only hear you when they are looking right at you
5. If it seems like your child is not paying attention to you, teachers, or during social interactions
For children and teens, even a minor hearing loss can make a big difference in academics, social relationships and athletics.
“Children are incredibly resilient,” said Thompson. “they easily adapt to situations and may be compensating for a hearing loss without even being aware of it.”
Thompson went on to explain that it can be very exhausting for a child to compensate regularly for their hearing loss and may become disengaged or disinterested in everyday activities.
“Often parents and teachers don’t realize that a child’s behavior may be a sign of hearing loss,” Thompson explained. “If parents suspect an issue, they should have their child evaluated by an audiologist. Audiologists have the tools and training to identify hearing loss, degrees of hearing loss, and can recommend solutions for children of any age. Hearing clinics are open and have detailed protocols and safety measures during the pandemic.”
If you find that you or a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, GiveHear wants to help. Call 260.602.3276 to see if you qualify for reduced cost services, or get connected to additional audiology services in your area.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained in this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this in this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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About GiveHear
GiveHear is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to providing the Gift of Hearing. Our desire is that no person is prevented from full participation in life due to hearing loss. Our mission is to build the self-worth of individuals by restoring their hearing potential and providing them with opportunities to engage with their communities through service to others. To learn more about our programs, please visit us at: www.GiveHear.org.
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