Did you know that middle ear fluid can cause temporary hearing loss and that repeated and/or prolonged middle ear fluid in infants and young children can have an impact on speech and language development? Even mild or fluctuating hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid can reduce the amount of speech sound information that a child receives. This reduced or inconsistent auditory information often impedes a child’s ability to hear and to learn to produce a variety of speech sounds. As a result, their speech can be unclear and their language development slower than that of their peers.
If your child has a history of ear infections or middle ear fluid and you have concerns about his or her listening, speech or language skills, contact the Shelley and Steven Einhorn Communication Center at the Center for Hearing and Communication for information and assistance. Phone (917) 305-7840 or click here to send us an email.
