The Overlooked Checkup That Can Help A Child Feel Heard
What happens in this scenario? You ask your child to put on their shoes, and they seem to have no idea what you just said. You ask them again. And again. Time passes, and now the whole house is loud; the cereal is getting mushy, and all of a sudden, everyone seems exhausted before the day really starts.
How many parents assume that their child is ignoring them, is being stubborn, or has “checked out” to their own private world? At times, that is true. Kids will be kids. However, there are times when the problem is not so much behavioral as auditory. A child may not always hear every single sound, may not process each word correctly, or may lack the confidence to speak back.
That short communication gap affects so much more than our conversations with our child. This can impact a child’s self-confidence (and therefore their ability to succeed), relationships with other children, academic performance, and ultimately how the child views themselves.
Listening And Feeling Safe
Language provides children with a way to navigate their world. Children depend on hearing and understanding language to receive instruction, enjoy humor, experience comfort, receive warning messages, and create opportunities for bonding with others. Language is also an important tool for children to develop a sense of security in their world.
When parents fail to address hearing or speech-related problems, children may begin to feel disconnected from society, though they cannot articulate why. As such, we may see some of these behaviors:
Frequent requests for clarification (“What?”).
Increased volume on TVs.
Avoidance of group conversations.
Mispronunciation of specific sounds.
Frustration when others fail to comprehend their communications.
Shyness or acting out due to a lack of appropriate outlets for frustrations.
Do not jump to conclusions, thinking something serious is wrong. We are merely suggesting that you take a moment to examine things a bit more closely.
Speech/ Hearing Checks Most Parents Postpone Until It’s Too Late
Parents do not need to wait until school report cards indicate delays or multiple teacher complaints. If your child appears fatigued after listening, seems unable to follow multi-step directions, avoids conversational interactions in front of groups, etc., something to consider is to find a local speech test from a certified professional.
Your objective here is not labeling your child. Your ultimate goal is to support your child before minor challenges evolve into significant emotional patterns.
Positive Outcomes After Taking That First Step
In either case, your mind may be calmed knowing that everything appears normal, or you will be informed of the steps needed to support your child’s needs. For example, you may discover ways to support your child through speech therapy, hearing aids, home-based activities, or new strategies for verbal interaction.
Supporting Self-Confidence Through Quiet Methods
Often, as a parent, we recognize things that others may overlook. The brief pause before answering. Tired-looking eyes following a busy environment. Hidden frustration under a simple phrase like “I don’t know.”
An evaluation is not indicative of fear. An evaluation is an expression of care. It represents an opportunity to quietly say to your child, “I want to understand what you need.” In some cases, that is all that is necessary for a child to feel heard.