In this episode of the Hearing Matters Podcast, we discuss how hearing influences a child's education and future prospects with Dr. Douglas Beck and pediatric audiology expert Dr. Jackie Rogers Scholl. 

This episode takes you on a journey through auditory processing and literacy, shedding light on the stark reality that many children face when undiagnosed auditory issues lead to struggles in learning and reading. We tackle how inadequate hearing, reading and listening screenings in schools fail to detect and treat hearing loss, listening disorders, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, dyslexia and many other otherwise detectable and treatable problems, setting the stage for long-term academic challenges.

Dr. Scholl reveals the startling genetic and environmental contributors to hearing loss, as well as the impact of fluctuating hearing loss on speech and language development. We discuss groundbreaking research that links these auditory challenges to higher rates of incarceration, emphasizing the importance of stable auditory input for healthy brain development. 

The dialogue also addresses the outdated and sometimes non-existent current screening hearing protocols, which often do not detect fluctuating hearing loss, asymmetric hearing loss, extended high frequency hearing loss, poor word recognition scores, speech in noise problems, and other auditory  problems which can drastically affect a child's ability to process spoken language and succeed in the classroom.

As we look to the future of pediatric audiology, we express concerns over the potential impacts of budget cuts on the ability to effectively screen and support children with communicative disorders. We review early results from an upcoming study that promises to inform our understanding of hearing loss statistics, particularly regarding high-frequency loss in young children. 

Stay tuned for how to better manage and safeguard our children's hearing and, consequently, their educational and personal development, with insights from these leading experts in the field.

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