What effect does hearing loss have on speech and language development?
Speech and language are learned through hearing, vision and touch. Hearing is very important to speech, and studies have shown that speech and language development are negatively affected by chronic fluid accumulation. Children with Down syndrome often have fluctuating hearing loss due to the frequency of fluid accumulation. When fluid is present, hearing is affected; as fluid drains, hearing improves. When children do not consistently hear well, it is difficult to learn how sounds and events are related, e.g. the ring of the telephone or someone calling you. So, it is important to ensure that your child is hearing well. Pediatricians and otolaryngologists have great success in treating fluid accumulation, but treatment requires close monitoring. For more information, see: Shott, S. R. (2000). Down syndrome: Common pediatric ear, nose, and throat problems. Down Syndrome Quarterly, 5, 1-6. Shott, S.R., Joseph, A., and Heithaus, D. Hearing loss in children with Down syndrome. Internation
