Impact of Hearing Loss or Hard of Hearing

Hearing loss, whether congenital or acquired, can have a profound impact on speech and language development, academic achievement, and social communication. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may experience delays in vocabulary acquisition, grammar development, speech sound production, and pragmatic language skills. The degree of impact depends on the type, degree, and onset of hearing loss, as well as the timing of intervention.

Early identification through newborn hearing screening and timely intervention are critical for optimal outcomes. Children who receive hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other amplification devices benefit significantly from concurrent speech-language therapy to develop listening and spoken language skills. Auditory-verbal and auditory-oral approaches emphasize learning to listen and speak through amplified hearing.

Speech-language pathologists work closely with audiologists, educators of the deaf and hard of hearing, and families to provide comprehensive support. Therapy may focus on auditory skill development, speech production, vocabulary and grammar growth, self-advocacy skills, and ensuring effective communication access across all environments.