Hearing loss in childhood is common and can affect almost one in five children – with the majority developing problems during childhood rather than having problems from birth. In fact, hearing loss is much more prevalent in 6 to 11-year-olds than most current estimates (Moore et al, 2020).
Even when cases are mild, it can have a profound impact on speech, language, developmental and educational outcomes (Lieu et al, 2020; Moore et al, 2020). As such, speed in spotting and diagnosing problems as well as making necessary adjustments is crucial.
Deafness is not a learning disability. There is no reason why a child with any level of hearing loss cannot achieve as highly as their peers. However, the reality is that their educational outcomes do often suffer – with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) telling us that for several years now deaf children (including those with hearing deficits) have achieved an average of a GCSE grade lower than all children.
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