How Recurring Ear Infections Can Affect a Toddler’s Language Development
If your toddler has a history of frequent ear infections, we know you’re realllll familiar with your pediatrician. Your little one is waking up in the night (again), seems cranky, a bit of a high fever, not quite themselves…you know the drill. The stress of deciding whether or not this one requires antibiotics, if the antibiotic will be strong enough, the referral to an ENT–it’s a lot.
If you can relate, you’re not alone. It’s actually more common than you may think. We teamed up with Dr. Kelsey Kerkhove, a pediatric audiologist, to discuss the hearing and language development considerations that parents need to know about. It can potentially significantly impact how toddlers learn to speak and understand language, so it’s important to be aware of.
In this blog post, we will explore various ways that ear infections can effect a child's language development, the steps to take if your child is experiencing frequent ear infections, and how you can support their language development in the meantime.
You may be wondering what the link is between ear infections and your child’s speech and language development. Simply put, fluid accumulation in the ears due to ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss and make it challenging for children to hear properly. Children need to properly hear speech and language in order to learn to speak.
5 ways ear infections can impact hearing, speech, and language
Hearing Problems
It's often compared to hearing sounds while being underwater, resulting in softer and muffled sounds. This hearing difficulty can impede their ability to learn and pronounce words correctly and understand what others are saying.
Trouble Understanding Sounds
Even after the infection has subsided, ear infections can hinder the brain's ability to process and make sense of sounds. This can manifest as difficulty distinguishing different speech sounds, comprehending complex sentences, or following directions.
Less Exposure to Language
Frequent ear infections may cause children to miss out on crucial language learning opportunities. They may find it harder to participate in conversations, hear people from a distance, or comprehend speech in noisy environments. Consequently, their ability to acquire new words, employ proper grammar, and construct sentences may be affected.
Trouble with Speaking
Impaired hearing resulting from ear infections can make it more challenging for children to imitate and articulate sounds accurately. This can hinder their progress in learning to pronounce certain sounds correctly.
Limited Communication Opportunities
Children with recurring ear infections may experience frustration and a sense of exclusion due to difficulties in communication. They might struggle to engage in conversations, comprehend others, or express themselves effectively. These challenges can have a broad impact on their overall communication skills, including speaking, understanding, and using language in social settings.
Download our Language Milestones Checklist
If you’re feeling worried that your child’s language development may be delayed, be sure to grab our checklist for a detailed list of communication milestones paired with extra resources to help you as you track and take the next steps.
Ear Infections in Children: Common and Treatable
All of that sounds pretty intense, but the good news is ear infections are treatable.
Ear infections are more prevalent among children than one might realize, with over 80% of children experiencing an ear infection by the age of 3. It is important to remember that you are not alone in facing this issue. The shape of young children's ears makes them more susceptible to frequent ear infections. However, as they grow, changes in ear structure reduce the likelihood of recurrent infections.
Steps to Take if Your Child Has Recurring Ear Infections
If your child experiences recurring ear infections, there are several important steps you can take:
Consult with Your Pediatrician: Talk to your pediatrician if your child has had three or more ear infections within six months or four or more ear infections within twelve months. They can provide guidance on treatment options, including the possibility of ear tube surgery.
Try these at home tips to help manage the symptoms from Dr. Gans.
Schedule a Hearing Test: A hearing test will assess the impact of ear infections or fluid accumulation on your child's hearing. It is crucial to rule out other potential causes for hearing difficulties beyond ear infections or fluid in the ear. If you are unsure about what to expect for your toddler’s first hearing test, click here to learn more. Most ENT’s have an audiologist in their office—more on that below ↴
Consult an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Doctor: If your child experiences recurring ear infections, an ENT specialist can assist in devising a treatment plan. Ear tube surgery is a common procedure recommended for children in such cases (One of Katie’s kids had tubes placed in both ears when he was 16 months old).
Speech and Language Assessment: If you suspect your toddler might not be meeting communication milestones, it’s important to act early. Here is information on how to access early intervention services in the United States. Supporting Your Child's Communication during Wait Times
While waiting for specialist appointments, you can help improve your child's communication skills with these simple tips:
Get their attention before speaking to them.
Reduce background noise as much as possible.
Ensure your child can see your face while communicating.
Communicate at a close distance, aligning yourself with their eye level.
Your Next Step: Educate Yourself on What You Can Do at Home to Help
We also recommend enrolling in our online course, TalkToddler, if you want to learn how to help your toddler say more. Our Songs+Stories membership would also be a good option to help boost your child’s exposure to important language skills.
you’re not alone
Remember that not all children with recurring ear infections will have speech and language problems. The impact can vary depending on things like how severe and long-lasting the infections are, the child's age, and individual differences. Each child’s situation is unique and it’s important to talk with your child’s pediatrician to come up with the best treatment plan for them.
You are not alone in this journey, and there are resources and support available to help you and your child.
Thank you, Dr. Kelsey Kerkhove, for collaborating with us on this post!
