New research confirms that repeated early childhood ear infections if left untreated, can considerably impact children's auditory processing and verbal skills later on.
University of Florida scientists assessed over 100 children ages 5-10, finding those with more early ear infections consistently struggled with sound discrimination, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning compared to peers.
The cause: Fluid building up behind the eardrum from infections causes temporary hearing loss.
“Ear infections are so common that we tend to dismiss them as having no long-term effect. We should take all ear infections seriously. Parents should be aware that their child may have some middle ear fluid without it being painful and work with their doctor to monitor their child closely.” —Susan Nittrouer, Ph.D., lead researcher, Professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences in the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
Why it matters
Repeated hearing loss from chronic infections can lead to problems in auditory processing and language skills years later.
For example, the study found children with several ear infections before three years had
- Smaller vocabularies.
- More difficulty detecting sound changes (a sign of impaired auditory processing).
- Trouble matching similar-sounding words compared to peers.
- Deficits may only become apparent in later grades when language requirements become more complex.
What to do
- If ear infections are common, tubes placed temporarily in the eardrum help drain the fluid and restore hearing, reducing the risk of delayed development of the central auditory pathways and problems acquiring language.
- Early intervention, ongoing screening for middle ear dysfunction, and speech monitoring together safeguard language-skills development vital to literacy and life.
The takeaway for parents
Take all ear infections seriously and work with your doctor to closely monitor hearing, even after infections clear up.
Are you concerned about your child’s hearing
Schedule a consultation with one of our pediatric audiologists.
Your child's hearing health and your peace of mind are a call away.
