By Preston Collins, MS, ITFS & Wanda Pendergrass, ITFS – Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children with Hearing Impairments
During the first three years of life, children’s brains are developing rapidly, establishing their foundation for learning. Many are surprised to know that we actually “hear” with our brain! Our ears are the doorway that allows sound in to be processed by our brain. Babies listen for about 10 waking hours per day, 365 days per year. That adds up to 3,650 listening hours per year!
Approximately three out of every 1,000 children born in the United States have a hearing loss. Hearing loss impacts how well a child is able to learn and develop speech and language. With appropriate amplification (hearing aids, cochlear implants, BAHA- bone anchored hearing aids), parent involvement, and early intervention, a positive difference can be made in the language development of children with hearing loss.
The Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children with Hearing Impairments (ELSSP-HI) is a state agency in the Office of Early Learning, Department of Public Instruction. The program provides licensed teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing who coach families to incorporate speech, language and listening goals throughout their daily routines to enhance their child’s language development.
March 3, is World Hearing Day. Join us in promoting early identification and early intervention for children with hearing loss. “Eyes open, technology on!”
To better understand what a child with a hearing loss might be experiencing, check out this Hearing Loss Simulator