Back to School Wellness: Making Hearing Health a Priority

(Rockville, MD) Back-to-school preparations may include a variety of health-related appointments, including visits to the pediatrician, dentist, or eye doctor. But according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there’s one important health check that is often overlooked: a hearing test.

Roughly 15% of children ages 6–19 years have some degree of hearing loss in one or both ears, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even a so-called mild hearing loss can affect a child’s academic success.

“Even if a child is missing 5% or 10% of what is being taught in school, those may be key details that are critical to their understanding of the broader concept, lesson, or instructions,” said Robert Augustine, PhD, CCC-SLP, 2023 ASHA President. “Beyond learning difficulties, unaddressed hearing loss can also result in social and behavioral challenges. We want to set children up for success, and that means timely intervention for any hearing difficulties.”

Hearing screenings are available in some schools, but the requirements can vary widely by state. Generally, hearing screenings are not part of a child’s annual physical but occur every few years at the most. This means that some kids could go many years without having their hearing tested.

ASHA urges parents and caregivers to familiarize themselves with the signs of hearing loss, especially since hearing loss can be acquired at any age. If their child displays any of the signs, families should seek a full hearing evaluation from a certified audiologist. The signs in school-aged children may include

• hearing only parts of a conversation (frequently asking people to repeat themselves);
• listening to TV or other electronic devices at high volumes (louder than what is comfortable for others);
• sudden difficulty achieving academically;
• unexplained social difficulties and/or seeming unhappy in school;
• hearing ringing or buzzing in the ears;
• difficulty following directions or paying attention; and
• feeling exhausted at the end of a school day.

If a child is evaluated and found to have hearing loss, there are ways for them to have complete access to classroom instruction. This may include fitting children with hearing aids or other personal sound amplification devices (kids should never use over-the-counter hearing aids, which are only for adults). There are also classroom technologies, specific teaching strategies, and accommodations that can be made. Audiologists will assist by working with school staff to help children succeed academically.  

For more information on hearing loss and hearing protection, visit www.asha.org/public. To find a certified audiologist in your area, visit www.asha.org/profind.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 228,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.