Hearing, Speech, and Language Resources

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​​​​💡 Did you know?

• About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.
• Nearly 1 in 12 (7.7 percent) U.S. children ages 3-17 has had a disorder related to voice, speech, language, or swallowing in the past 12 months.
• Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 milli​on) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.
• About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using h​earing aids.
• Among children who have a voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorder, 34 percent of those ages 3-10 have multiple communication or swallowing disorders, while 25.4 percent of those ages 11-17 have multiple disorders.

​​ ​ Provided by the NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Boys Town offers comprehensive hearing, speech, and language clinical services for children and adults. Boys Town is also a leader in research in these areas, advancing our understanding of how hearing, speech, and language affect our everyday lives.

Learn more about Boys Town's clinical services for hearing, speech, and language:

• Hearing and Balance Center
  
• Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning
• Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy
• Cochlear Implant Center
• Explore other service areas here​
  

​​​​​Hearing and Language Websites​

Boys Town has created in-depth websites to help parents, caregivers, educators and others caring for children who have been newly diagnosed as Deaf or hard-of-hearing and for individuals of​ all ages with speech-language concerns.

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Learn More A​​bout Hearing

• About Hearing

  General:

  • How the ear works (video)
  • Hearing self-test questionnaire (for adults)

  Babies and children:

  • When should my child's hearing be tested?

  Hearing loss:

  • Is my child at risk for hearing loss? For more information, see the table in: What do my baby's hearing results mean?
  • Do ear infections cause hearing loss? What are middle ear problems?
  • What is unilateral hearing loss?
• Hearing Tests

  General:

  • How is hearing tested? (video)
  • What is an Audiogram? – Understanding Hearing Test Results (video: What does hearing loss sound like?)

  Babies and children:

  • How hearing is screened in babies (video)
  • What is Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and why is it important?
  • Hearing tests to expect as your child grows (video)
• Hearing Aids

  General:

  • Hearing aids and how they work
  • Hearing aid evaluation and fitting for adults
  • Questions to ask an audiologist/hearing aid dispenser before buying hearing devices
  • Besides a hearing aid, what other assistive devices are available to help me hear?

  Babies and children:

  • Selecting hearing aids for infants and children (video)
  • Hearing Aid Fitting and Evaluation for Children (video)
  • Boys Town's loaner hearing aid program
  • How can I help my baby adjust to wearing hearing aids?
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Device Use (babyhearing.org)
    
  • Parenting and Support – babyhearing.org

  School-age children:

  • Classroom Accommodations for Children with Minimal or Mild Hearing Loss
  • What are FM systems (remote microphone technology)?
• Cochlear Implants
  • How Does a Cochlear Implant Work? (video)
  • Cochlear Implants for Babies & Young Children
• About Balance
  • What vestibular tests are offered?
  • What vestibular treatments are offered?

Learn More A​​bout Speech and Language

• Speech and Language for Development

  Babies:

  • Language and Learning - My Baby's Hearing
  • Baby Sign Language (video)
  • Reading and Talking to Your Baby (video)

  Toddlers and Children:

  • Speech and Language Development Milestones as Your Child Grows
  • How to Speak to Your Child
  • Toddler Language Development (video)
  • Singing and Expressive Language Development (video)
  • Temperament: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
• Supporting Speech and Language Development
  • Effects of Virtual Learning on Speech and Language at Home
  • Exposure to Talk and Television Impacts Language Development in Children with Hearing Loss
  • Supporting Auditory Skills Development at Home
  • Auditory-to-Visual Communication Continuum
• Speech and Language Disorders
  • Communication Disorders in Children
  • Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – Identifying DLD
  • Identifying Red Flags for Developmental Language Disorder
  • Dyslexia in Children - Boys Town Behavioral Health (video)
  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech
• Professional Resources for Speech and Language Development
  • When Should a Child See a Speech Therapist?
  • Professional Services that Support Communication Development​