Can ear infections lead to permanent hearing loss?

Ear infections are the most common reason children are taken to the doctor.  Although they can be treated with antibiotics, sound can become muffled during each episode due to the fluid in the ear and can take months to return to normal.  

"Previous studies have shown that this conductive hearing loss impacts speech and language development, the ability to hear the location sounds come from, and may contribute to auditory processing disorders" (Karp, 2015).  So the question begs - can ear infections lead to permanent hearing loss?  Find out what hearing loss expert Melissa Karp has to say about a new study and it's findings.

Can ear infections lead to permanent hearing loss? 

Play Isn't Just for Fun!

By engaging in pretend play, children begin to develop areas such as language and communication, problem solving, and social and emotional skills.  Strong pretend play skills can lead to better language and more advanced thinking skills at a later age. 

Wondering where your child's pretend play skills are at?  Consider and observe what they play with and how they play, then join in and show them something new! 

Find resources and other information on how to help your child learn to pretend from The Hanen Centre (Link below).

The Hanen Centre
Encouraging Pretend Play in Children with Social Communication Difficulties

Let's talk reading issues

Reading is a complex task, requiring a number of different skills to cooperatively work together for a successful outcome.  With so many components comes so many places to cause trouble.  Processing, memory, and attention are three major areas connected to the success of readers where even minor issues can begin to cause a ripple effect. 

Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Find out how to help your struggling reader.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Other Issues

Let's talk comprehension

Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read.  This can include knowing the meaning of words and making inferences, while incorporating elements of thinking and reasoning. 

Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Find out how to help your struggling reader and more about reading comprehension.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Comprehension

Let's Talk Fluency

Fluency refers to the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and appropriate expression.  Fluent reading - whether silent or aloud - is important for comprehension.  When your child reads, is it slow and choppy?  Can they read single words, but have difficulty when trying to read sentences together? 
Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Find out how to help your struggling reader and more about reading fluency.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Fluency

Let's Talk Vocabulary

A child's grasp of vocabulary can not only affect their ability to express themselves, but it can also affect their reading skills and comprehension.

Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Find out how to help your struggling reader with vocabulary.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Vocabulary

Let's Talk Phonics

Phonics is a strategy used to teach reading, focusing on the relationships between letters and sounds, and applying rules and exceptions to decode (properly pronounce) written words.
Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Word Decoding and Phonics

Let's Talk Phonological Awareness

What is it? And how can you help?

Reading Rockets is a great resource for parents and teachers with information about a wide variety of struggles many readers have.  Find out what to watch for, what it could mean, and how you can help.

Find out how to help your struggling reader and more about phonological and phonemic awareness.

Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers: Phonological and Phonemic Awareness