Hearing Loss in One Ear Leads to Speech-Language Delays

While bilateral hearing loss – in both ears – has been known to cause speech-language and academic delays, health and education professionals have often discounted the effect of hearing loss in a single ear on a child’s language skills. These children may not be fitted with hearing aids or receive accommodations for disability. A new study suggests children with unilateral hearing loss – in a single ear – should be eligible for the same accommodations as children with bilateral hearing loss. The study, “Unilateral Hearing Loss is Associated With Worse Speech-Language Scores in Children,” published in the June print issue of Pediatrics (appearing online May 10), compared 74 children ages 6 to 12 years with unilateral hearing loss to their siblings with normal hearing. Children with unilateral hearing loss scored significantly worse in oral language skills than their siblings. Study authors suggest more research is needed to determine when the onset of speech-language delays occurs and the mechanisms through which unilateral hearing loss affects speech-language development, and whether any interventions might mitigate the effects of unilateral hearing loss.

Judith E. C. Lieu, MD, discusses her hearing loss study on the Healthy Children Radio Show (Part 1). For Part 2, click here.