Dare to be Deaf!

Age appropriate Speech and Hearing in children

Hearing and speech together forms almost 40% of all disabilities in children, early diagnosis is the key for habilitating these children.

1-5:1000 children are born with some degree of hearing loss. 5-10% of pre-schoolers have speech problems. Hearing is critical for learning speech, language and communication. Apart from hearing loss, other causes of speech delay include learning disabilities, structural abnormalities like cleft palate, autism spectrum disorders, expressive speech delay to name a few.Early diagnosis for disabilities means diagnosis at birth or below three years.If the diagnosis is delayed,i.e. after 6-8 years,it is difficult to mainstream.

Below is the age appropriate hearing and speech chart from birth to 5 years. 

I must mention that if a child achieves about 70 % of these milestones, it is satisfactory. If any concerns, child should be assessed by a doctor immediately. Hearing screening should be done in all babies at birth. Hearing loss can be confirmed as early as 3 months of age and habilitation should be started as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.

Hearing loss and deafness treatment-Role of Cochlear Implants

Hearing loss can be classified as conductive or Sensorineural or mixed.
It can also be temporary or permanent or progressive.

How do we hear?

The sounds are collected by outer ear pinna and carried through the ear canal.This vibrates the eardrum and the tiny bones of hearing in turn.These vibrations are carried to the inner ear or Cochlea where it is converted to electrical impulses and finally carried to brain through nerve of hearing.The auditory area of brain interprets the sound.


If there is a disease or problem in outer or middle ear,usually its conductive hearing loss.For example ear wax or middle ear fluid.
If the disease spreads from middle ear to inner ear,it causes mixed hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs if the infection involves inner ear or deafness from birth due to various causes.
Clinical examination and audiological tests helps us to diagnose.Sometimes we may need scans-HRCT/MRI.

Depending on the diagnosis,treatment is planned.
For infection-medical treatment.
Middle ear fluid may need drainage.Chronic ear  diseases may need surgery.

The treatment of Sensorineural hearing loss also depends on diagnosis.If its Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss,it may need oral steroids as the cause is usually Viral.

However manytimes an MRI Scan is ordered to rule out other pathology.

Finally Sensorineural Hearing loss-Progressive or from birth

This may need fitting of hearing aids with auditory,speech and language therapy.

Most of the times children welcome the world of sound.Few take time to keep the hearing aids on for the daytime.The therapist and mother work on auditory and language training.

Cochlear Implants are for those children who do not do well with hearing aids.There are various audiological,radiological and social criterias for Cochlear Implantation.

A cochlear implantee attending auditory verbal therapy with mother.