DS (nearly 20 months) had a hearing test this morning which has shown some mild hearing loss in one ear. The ear effected is very waxy, so I've been asked to use olive oil drops and come back for a retest.
My question is, how much impact does unilateral mild hearing loss have on speech and language development? I appreciate we won't know the extent of hearing loss until the re-test, but we were told the hearing was fine in the 'good ear'. The referral was following a conversation with our HV as DS isn't saying much at all. She met with us and said his speech/language was around the level of an 11/12 month old when she assessed him at 18 months.
He is 50:50 responding to his name and following commands, which has naturally caused us some concern. For example he wouldn't get you a book if you asked for it without gesturing. He does however point and gesture to get things he wants, has brilliant eye contact and is very interested in other children and people. He waves hello/good bye, blows kisses etc. I talk to him constantly, naming things etc but he just doesn't seem to be making the connection between words and objects. It took me weeks to teach him where his nose was. Although interestingly he babbles constantly, and it sounds 'conversational', with pauses and intonation.
He's recently started nursery and I have been really struck by how much further on with speech/language/communication his peers seem. I just can't help but worry about him, as he loves interacting with people, but he just doesn't seem to be progressing at all in this area.