A new experiment shows that parents should take ear infections pretty much seriously to protect their children's language development.
Ear infections can cause fluid to build up behind the eardrum and impair hearing.
New research shows that chronic ear infections can lead to difficulties in auditory processing and language development in kids.
It's important
It is important for parents to be aware that their kid may have fluid in the middle ear without pain and to work closely with their doctor.
The experiment found that kids who had multiple ear infections before the age of three had smaller vocabularies and struggled to match similar sounding words.
Children who had multiple ear infections before the age of three had trouble noticing differences in sounds, which suggests that their brain's ability to process auditory information may be affected.
It is important for specialists to keep watching over children's progress even after their earaches from preschool time are gone, as they may experience language difficulties later on.
Prevention is always better
Early treatment of ear infections can prevent fluid buildup and protect language development.
If fluid does accumulate, temporary ear tubes can help drain it and restore hearing, reducing the risk of language delays.
The scientists plan to further investigate auditory development in children at risk for delays due to other factors, such as premature birth.
Previously, we talked about premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
