These children often become frustrated and may show behavior problems. Whenever you suspect that a child may have a hearing problem, notify the parents so they can take the child to a doctor. Carefully kept observation notes help both parents and the physician. Prompt medical attention is important. To learn to speak, a child must first hear.
Hearing is vital to language development.
Acquiring language is one of the most important tasks of the preschool child. Even a slight loss of hearing will affect language development. Although middle-ear infection is only one possible cause of hearing loss, it accounts for more than 90 percent of hearing problems in children under the age of six. Use the child's name to gain attention before talking to the child. Keep within three feet of the child when you speak.