Don’t let your child’s hearing and speech health fall behind during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Associates are here to help!
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, hearing screenings in school-aged children play an integral part in identifying hearing loss in children who were not identified at birth, missed follow-up appointments, , or whom developed hearing loss later in their development. Without mandated routine hearing screenings in schools, students with unilateral (one-sided), less severe, or late onset hearing loss may not be identified. This can affect their ability to learn, lead to speech and other developmental delays.
Impact of COVID-19 on Hearing Testing in Schools
Many young children are attending virtual classrooms this school year, COVID-19 precautions could limit efforts to provide in school hearing testing and speech screenings. Without schools providing screenings to help ensure children with hearing loss are identified and managed in a timely manner, many students could fall behind or have delays in care. With the onset of remote learning and hybrid models, students may have limited or no access to hearing testing services and are at greater risk for poor hearing health and educational outcomes. Unidentified hearing loss can result in delays in speech and language development and cause learning delays as well as social and behavioral issues.
Given the flu season coupled with surging COVID-19 cases, many schools are closed, have reduced in-person classes and have reduced staff and resources. This may limit hearing testing availability for so many kindergarteners through second grade students, which New York State mandates. It is especially important for students with speech delays, learning disabilities, attention issues, or auditory processing disorders to have an in-office annual ear, nose and throat exam and audiological assessment. During the pandemic when limiting contact is important, the expert providers at Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates will safely examine, evaluate and treat your child’s ear, nose and throat problems and provide in-office hearing assessments. Our team of dedicated professionals can also arrange any therapies needed, all in 1 visit!
At Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, we follow current CDC Covid-19 guidelines including cleaning and disinfecting all exam rooms and hearing testing equipment, to keep you and your child safe while undergoing evaluation.
The doctors at Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates can provide hearing testing for children who:
- Need annual hearing screening
- Failed a hearing test at birth, at school or at the pediatrician’s office
- Need evaluation of recurrent ear infections or persistent ear fluid
- Have speech and language delays
- Have suspected auditory processing disorders
- Have special needs
Contact Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates at 716-362-9730 to arrange an hearing evaluation and avoid development delays and minimize potential negative academic consequences.