CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLE WITH READING SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR HEARING PROBLEMS: STUDY

Research has found out that hearing problems can make children of young age struggle with reading and writing. The researchers at Coventry University in U.K. conducted a study on 195 children by asking them to complete a group of test and were able to draw out two conclusions – One in four participants who had reading difficulties is suffering from mild-moderate hearing impairment; One in three participants that had a history of ear infection had problems with reading and writing. With the help of this study, it gave way to let the parents and the teachers of these children awareness that their child might be suffering from hearing impairment.

Breadmore has stated that a mild-moderate hearing loss will make the perception of speech sounds difficult and that children who have suffered repeated ear infections and associated hearing problems have fluctuating access to different speech sounds. He then suggested that the children who struggle with reading should be regularly tested for hearing problems.

According to a 2016 report by the Canadian Association of Audiology and Speech Language Audiology Canada, most of the Canadian provinces have programs in place to screen infants for hearing impairment. However, the researchers of the Coventry University made it known that deafness can take root at later ages.

The Canadian Paediatric Society said that children who are diagnosed with hearing difficulties after 2 years of age are more likely to have lifelong issues with literacy and recommended that children in school should see a hearing specialist if they exhibit certain signs of hearing difficulties.