Why Your Child Should Have A Back To School Hearing Exam

Many of our children are heading back to school for the first time in a while. They have been practicing at-home learning online for months, and they are about to step back into a classroom with all its assorted noises and distractions. In addition, some teachers and classmates will be wearing masks which can hinder how well kids hear what others are saying. These reasons are just the surface of why your child should have a back to school hearing exam.

The Value Of Hearing Tests

Hearing is but one of our five senses, but a crucial one for school age children. Being tested before starting school is surely beneficial in the short term, but it can also influence how successful a child will be in the future.

Hearing problems can occur at any time. It can affect one or both ears, and if left undiagnosed can lead to several long term issues.

• It can lead to delayed speech development during kindergarten and into the lower grades.
• It can delay social development and a child can have trouble interacting with peers
• It can affect academic performance and self esteem.

None of these are a good recipe for academic success.

Sometimes hearing issues are caused by physical conditions like ears being blocked by mucus or ear wax. These can easily be treated.

When To Schedule Hearing Tests For Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the following schedule:

• At school entry for all children
• At ages 6, 8, and 10
• 1 time in middle school
• 1 time in high school

Be sure to tell Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat if your family has a history of hearing loss.

School Screening vs. Professional Setting

Don’t mistake a school screening for a professional one. A simple and short screening performed at a school does not tell you much about hearing loss. It can’t tell you how severe it is. It cannot tell you about the subtle variables in hearing loss, and it does not measure higher frequency sounds. It usually only gives you a pass or fail result.

Having a hearing test done in a professional setting like Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat in Savannah and Pooler, GA with specialized equipment tells you what frequencies a child does not hear and more detailed information about the severity of the hearing loss.

It’s best to schedule a hearing test at an audiologist or a ENT physician like Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat who specializes in treating diseases and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.

Don’t delay in scheduling a hearing test for your child as they begin school this coming year.