Almost all children will experience an ear infection at some point in their early development. When children have recurrent middle ear infections their hearing often fluctuates, making it difficult for them to receive a consistent and clear speech signal. The early ages of 0-3 are critical for the development of effective listening and language skills. Listening skills are important for developing language and language is important for the development of reading and writing skills. When children miss out on opportunities to develop effective listening skills, they often struggle academically, emotionally, and socially.
Some common signs to look for include:
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or songs
- Delays in developing speech and language
- Difficulty learning phonics
- Difficulty understanding speech when there’s noise in the background
- Difficulty following directions
- Poor memory for information learned through listening
