A new campaign is underway to educate parents, caregivers and educators about the early warning signs of communication disorders.
Many certified experts in a new poll from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association said they believe lack of awareness among parents is the leading barrier to early detection in children.
Melissa Halpern, a speech-language pathologist based in Dallas, discusses the warning signs in children, and how early communication with a child actually begins.
Early signs of hearing loss:
- Lack of attention to sounds
- Does not follow simple directions
- Does not respond when their name is called
- Delays in speech and language development
- Pulls or scratches at their ears
- Difficulty achieving academically, especially in reading and math
- Socially isolated and unhappy in school
- Persistent ear discomfort after exposure to loud noise (regular and constant listening to electronics at high volumes
Early signs of speech-language disorders
- Does not interact socially (infancy and older)
- Does not follow or understand what you say (starting at 1 year)
- Says only a few sounds, words, or gestures (18 months to 2 years)
- Words are not easily understood (18 months to 2 years)
- Does not combine words (starting at 2 years)
- Struggles to say sounds or words (3 to 4 years)
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