Hearing and deaf children process information differently
Most children look forward to their first day of school with excitement and anticipation. This includes children with hearing loss—they require special attention.
As a recent U.S. study shows, differences in cognitive development between deaf and hearing children are already evident in early childhood. To investigate this, the researchers showed a colorful object on a monitor to 23 hearing babies and 23 deaf babies, all between seven and 22 months old. The deaf children looked at the object for an average of 30 seconds longer than the hearing children. In addition, their “look-away rate” was 40 percent lower than that of the hearing children.
Every child should be able to reach their full potential
According to the researchers, their findings indicate that deaf children learn more slowly. “Precisely because they rely on their sense of sight to perceive the world around them, it could be that they pay more attention to visual objects,” says Derek Houston, an assistant professor at Ohio University. “They may process the object more intensely.” Further research will now seek to shed light on why these differences in visual perception exist. Understanding these differences can help tailor preschool and early elementary school instruction to better meet the children’s needs. The goal is to support each child so that they can reach their full potential.
Early and Regular Hearing Tests
Until children learn to read, they absorb information almost exclusively through their hearing. In preschool and as they start school, good hearing is therefore essential for unimpeded learning development. To ensure the best possible support, you should therefore make sure to have your child’s hearing tested regularly. And especially if you have the impression that your child isn’t hearing properly, consult an ENT specialist or your pediatrician immediately. This is the only way to definitively diagnose hearing loss and provide appropriate treatment—as early as possible.
Studies have shown that hearing impairments—especially hearing loss—should be treated as early as the first year of life so that language can develop appropriately for the child’s age. To ensure this, a so-called newborn hearing screening is typically conducted in Germany within the first few days of life. During this screening, a pediatrician checks whether the inner ear is capable of hearing.
The earlier hearing problems are detected and treated, the greater the chances for normal, healthy language development. This ensures that nothing stands in the way of a successful start in school.
To find out what you can give your child to take with them to school if they have a hearing loss, read our article “A Back-to-School Gift Bag and a Hearing Aid.”
