Debbie Clason, Healthy Hearing staff writer, contributed to this article, which was last updated on June 9, 2020.
It is commonly recognized that untreated hearing loss can have an influence on academic achievement. However, evidence indicates that hearing aids and other therapies (such as cochlear implants) can help reduce the burden of hearing loss.
A University of Iowa research, for example, found that using hearing aids helps hearing-impaired youngsters develop language and communication.
Researchers monitored 180 preschool-aged hearing-impaired children from six different states who were identified through universal newborn screening data and referrals from clinical care providers.
When compared to children with untreated hearing loss, all of the children who wore hearing aids had greater speech and language development. The study also discovered that the longer a youngster used hearing aids, the better his or her speech and language development.
"Our findings show that any level of hearing loss, no matter how modest, can damage children." "Our research suggests that early and vigorous action can lessen the threat." said Bruce Tomblin, an emeritus professor in the University of Iowa's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, in a press release.