Improving Listening at Home in Young Children with Hearing Loss

By Carlos Benítez-Barrera and Isabel Olleta

This article is a part of the January/February 2024, Volume 36, Number 1, Audiology Today issue.

Overcoming Language Barriers for Children with Hearing Loss

Despite advancements in hearing devices, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, the path to language proficiency for children with hearing loss can be challenging (Geers et al, 2009). The severity of their hearing loss, how early they have access to sound, and how consistently they use their devices all affect their language development (Geers et al, 2009). Therefore, accessing proper early intervention services is vital for children with hearing loss (Yoshinaga-Itano, 1999). In addition, recent insights emphasize the importance of family involvement for children’s development. Research shows that the more children with hearing loss interact with their caregivers in language-rich environments, the better their language skills are later in life (Holzinger et al, 2020). For that reason, family-centered intervention programs that teach caregivers how to create language-rich homes are highly recommended for families who want their children with hearing loss to learn spoken language (Nickbakht et al, 2021). The combined focus on early intervention and family-centered support has enabled many children with hearing loss to develop language skills equivalent to their peers with typical hearing (Geers et al, 2009).