Hearing plays a massive part in the development of language and speech and a loss of hearing or a hearing impairment can have massive implications for speech development. A lack of hearing affects speech and development in four major ways, these are:
- It causes slow development of speech and language
- Slow language development leads to poor performance at school as it makes learning more difficult: children struggle to increase their vocabulary, communicate their ideas and join in with class discussions. A hearing impairment may also make it more difficult to grasp new subjects, especially with subjects like English grammar
- Difficulties with communication and language can lead to people becoming isolated and frustrated
- Speech problems may cause problems with choosing careers: many careers depend heavily on successful oral communication so people with speech problems may miss out on employment opportunities
Guide to Hearing and Speech Problems
How can I tell if my child has hearing problems?
What are the effects of hearing loss on development?
Getting help for hearing problems