The hidden hearing crisis in early years – and the free solution every nursery can use
The Voice of Early ChildhoodShow Notes
Too many children are quietly struggling to hear in early years settings, and it is often missed until their speech, learning and behaviour are already affected. This article and podcast episode share the story behind the Universal Glue Ear Screening Programme, explain what glue ear is and why it matters, and show how a free termly glue ear check can protect every child.
Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-hidden-hearing-crisis-in-early-years-and-the-free-solution-every-nursery-can-use/
This episode is in partnership with My Little Ears
We are a paediatric hearing clinic dedicated to improving early identification and management of glue ear in children. Glue ear is the leading cause of temporary hearing loss in children, affecting 1 in 5 preschool children at any given time in the UK.
To find out more visit: https://mylittleears.co.uk/
Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: · A guide to potty training with Rebecca Mottram: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/a-guide-to-potty-training/ · Nutritious mealtimes for under 5's with Catherine Lippe: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/nutritious-mealtimes-for-under-5s/
Get in touch and share your voice: Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
Episode break down: 00:00 – Glue ear: the hidden hearing crisis in early childhood 00:50 – What is glue ear and how does it affect hearing? 03:28 – How common is glue ear in children? 04:33 – Why young children are more susceptible to glue ear 05:58 – Why glue ear resolves differently for each child 06:40 – Why early detection needs to happen beyond the clinic 07:22 – The universal glue ear screening programme for nurseries and schools 09:22 – What glue ear may look like in children 10:49 – 'Not listening' or not hearing? 11:37 – Changes in play, behaviour and communication 13:51 – Key signs educators may notice 14:44 – Signs at home and the effects on speech 15:43 – Hearing muffled speech: a practical demonstration 17:31 – Auditory processing and possible longer-term effects 19:31 – Listening effort, fatigue and memory 20:22 – Why glue ear can recur 21:51 – Factors that may increase the likelihood or severity of glue ear 23:16 – Screening findings: 63% of children in one nursery 25:30 – What happens after glue ear is detected? 27:02 – Supporting access to sound with bone-conduction hearing aids 27:58 – Auto-inflation therapy 29:34 – ENT referrals and grommet surgery 31:05 – What parents and educators can do if they are concerned 32:35 – The free glue ear awareness course 33:03 – Final reflections and further information
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com
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