Is Your Child Falling Behind? The Answer Might Be in Their Ears!

Hearing plays a significant role in a child's development, influencing language, social interactions, and academic performance. When hearing loss goes undetected, it can seriously impact growth, causing issues beyond communication difficulties.

Research suggests that approximately 15 percent of students worldwide suffer from temporary hearing loss, disrupting learning and social relationships. The consequences can be severe, affecting education and, in some cases, leading to financial hardships. However, early screening and intervention can prevent these challenges. We turn to Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, MBBS, M.S. (ENT), who is a specialist at OM ENT and Maternity Centre in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

Highlighting that India has the largest population of schoolchildren with hearing impairment, he says yet many remain undiagnosed due to the absence of a structured screening program. Without early detection, children struggle academically or drop out of school, limiting their prospects. Around 25.9 percent of India's population falls in the 0-14 age group, stressing the need for early intervention.

Hearing loss is often diagnosed beyond age two due to the lack of newborn screening programs. By the time a child receives a hearing aid, crucial developmental stages may have been missed.

Barriers Hindering Early Detection

According to Dr. Kumar, several barriers hinder early detection. Social stigma discourages parents from seeking medical advice, and visible hearing aids make families reluctant to use them for fear of discrimination. Rural areas suffer due to a lack of well-equipped audiology centres, and many district hospitals lack the infrastructure for early screening. Financial constraints also play a role, making hearing aids, cochlear implants, and therapy inaccessible to many families.

How Acknowledging Impairment Becomes Tough

Dr. Kumar points out that parents often struggle to accept their child's condition. The psychological process of acknowledging hearing impairment can be complex, leading to delays in medical intervention. Unfortunately, by the time parents act, the critical phase of language development has often passed. Without early intervention, children struggle to develop speech, affecting their confidence, peer interactions, and academic performance.

Insufficient Hearing Screening Programs

Another significant issue, as highlighted by Dr. Kumar, is the lack of hearing screening programs in schools. Regular check-ups could identify hearing problems before they impact academic performance. Without these programs, children remain unaware of their condition, and teachers and parents may misinterpret their struggles as inattentiveness or a lack of interest in studies. This misdiagnosis can label children as slow learners or having behavioural issues rather than recognising hearing loss as the root cause.

Language development is among the most affected areas when hearing loss goes undiagnosed. Dr. Kumar explains that children learn to communicate by mimicking sounds, but when they cannot perceive these sounds, they struggle with vocabulary, sentence structure, and clear speech. In classrooms, following verbal instructions becomes challenging, causing them to fall behind their peers, leading to frustration and social withdrawal.

Hampered Social Interactions

Beyond academics, hearing impairment affects social interactions. Friendships are crucial for emotional and psychological growth, but hearing-impaired children may feel isolated due to communication difficulties. Dr. Kumar warns that such obstacles lower self-esteem and hinder the ability to form meaningful relationships, impacting long-term mental health.

Dr. Kumar stresses the need for a multi-pronged approach to address this issue. Mandatory hearing tests for infants at birth and in schools can increase early detection rates. Expanding audiological care, especially in rural areas, will help bridge the treatment gap. Government policies should focus on subsidising hearing aids and implants to make them more accessible. Additionally, awareness campaigns must be launched to reduce stigma around hearing aids and encourage parents to seek timely treatment for their children.

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