#Aural training for deaf kids full

its frequency or pitch (measured in units called hertz, Hz).its loudness or intensity (measured in units called decibels, dB) and.Catching a hearing loss early means that treatment can start early as well and “help the child develop communication and language skills that will last a lifetime” ( CDC, 2013).īefore we describe the types of hearing loss a person may have, it’s useful to know that sound is measured by: Recognizing the importance of early detection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) recommends that every newborn be screened for hearing loss as early as possible, usually before they leave the hospital. When hearing loss goes undetected, children are delayed in developing these skills ( March of Dimes, 2010). That’s because language and communication skills develop most rapidly in childhood, especially before the age of 3. When a child has a hearing loss, it is cause for immediate attention. Hearing gives us access to sounds in the world around us-people’s voices, their words, a car horn blown in warning or as hello! She’s back on track, soaking up new information like a sponge, and eager for more.īack to top About Hearing Loss in Children

She sits in the front row in class, an accommodation that helps her hear the teacher clearly. So has her vocabulary and her attentiveness. Now in the first grade, she regularly gets speech therapy and other services, and her speech has improved dramatically. She also began receiving special education and related services through the public school system. The audiologist said she had sensorineural hearing loss.Ĭaroline was immediately fitted with hearing aids.

#Aural training for deaf kids full

So Caroline’s parents took her to an audiologist, who collected a full medical history, examined the little girl’s ears inside and out, ran a battery of hearing tests and other assessments, and eventually diagnosed that Caroline’s inner ear (the cochlea) was damaged. The most significant clue to the preschool was Caroline’s unclear speech, especially the lack of consonants like “d” and “t” at the end of words.

But it was the preschool she started attending when she was three that first put the clues together and suggested to Caroline’s parents that they have her hearing checked. She didn’t startle at noises that made other people jump. Caroline often didn’t respond to her name if her back was turned. She also wears a hearing aid in each ear-and has done so since she was three, when she was diagnosed with a moderate hearing loss.įor Caroline’s parents, there were many clues along the way. _ Caroline’s StoryĬaroline is six years old, with bright brown eyes and, at the moment, no front teeth, like so many other first graders.