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Why Reading is Important for Young Children

The building blocks of speech and language are set very early in a child's life, so it is important to take advantage of the periods of early child development to support their growing communication skills.

Reading aloud to children is one of the greatest opportunities to expose little ones to lots of different sounds, language, and vocabulary, which is particularly important for increasing their background knowledge across a range of topics.

Each book read together nurtures the development of a child’s brain. By reading with your child from a young age, you are encouraging language growth, early literacy skills, cognitive development, and family bonding.

Ideally, parents and carers should aim to read at least five books or short stories each day to their child.

Reading aloud also exposes children to repetitive language, slows the rate of speech for easier listening, and exaggerates features such as rhythm and intonation – which is key for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Child Reading Book In Speech Therapy Appointment

The Million Word Gap​

When books are not read with children at home, there can be significant impacts on a child’s language skills.

Research shows that there is a million word gap between families who expose children to regular reading at home compared to those who do not.

This means that children who do not read books from an early age are potentially missing out on key language development opportunities by being exposed to significantly fewer words.

Reading is incredibly valuable for a child’s development.

Songs for Language Development

Singing songs and rhymes is very important for a child's development, especially their language and speech development. As a bonus, your child will probably have fun too! Parents are encouraged to sing songs with their child and other children who may also be present, as this may encourage other parents to join in as well. Singing songs with children is also helpful in working on their attention span and developing various emotions that may be conveyed through the song.

The rising and falling intonation of singing also slows the rate of speech - which is beneficial for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Singing highlights different rhythms and phrasing which supports listening skills.

Often, young children learn the words to their favourite songs and rhymes, and this supports children in learning more words.

Storytime at Home

Your child might also enjoy hearing made-up stories or stories that involve your family. Hearing parents tell stories will help children in telling their own stories later down the line.

Listening to new words and the structure of how stories are told is really beneficial for a child to start telling stories about their own lives.

Girl reading at playgroup with mum

What are the Main Benefits of Reading with Children?​

There are many benefits to reading with children. Reading supports:

  • Early literacy skills
  • Independent reading skills
  • Critical thinking skills and problem-solving
  • Listening skills
  • Vocabulary skills
  • Language acquisition
  • Cognitive development
  • A child’s imagination
  • Child-parent bonding and social development

Importantly, reading aloud with babies and young children promotes brain development including helping to create numerous brain connections.

Reading in the early years also helps to cultivate a child’s life-long love of reading. This is important as reading is the key to life-long learning, especially in the later years of school, assisting in a child’s education.

Which Types of Books Should You Read With Babies and Early-Age Children?

When picking books to read with babies and young children, look for books that are age-appropriate, visually appealing, and entertaining. Books with bright pictures, large print, and rhyming words are excellent choices when picking a children's book.

For babies and young children, simple picture books featuring objects and animals your child can identify are best.

It’s helpful to have a varied supply of books on hand, whether that’s your collection or by joining a local library to borrow books. Keep an eye out for hard-paged books which will survive the rough-and-tumble of small children, and can be read together many times over.

You might find that young children gravitate towards their favourite book to read again and again. This shows that they are enjoying the story. It is important to note that often children learn best through repetition. The familiarity that reading the same story brings supports children's language acquisition. Parents can further develop their child's development by focusing on a different feature during each reading.

Speech Therapy Lesson With Child

What books should older children read?

For older children, books that feature characters who also have hearing loss can encourage inclusivity and normalise wearing hearing technology.

Books featuring hearing loss or hearing devices include:

  • Freddie and the Fairy, Julia Donaldson
  • The Cochlear Kids: Liam the Superhero, Heidi Dredge
  • Bill and Hug: A Dragon’s Tale, Julianne Schmid
  • Goat Goes to Playgroup, Julia Donaldson
  • Dachy’s Deaf, Jack Hughes
  • Our Sister Lotte and her Special Ears, Kelsey Browning
  • Chelsea’s New Ear, Simone Cheadle
  • Chelsea and her Little Ear Make a New Friend, Simone Cheadle
  • Now Hear this: Harper Soars with her Magic Ears, Valli and Harper Gideons

Older children can be encouraged to read aloud to support them in reading aloud fluently, including all of the individual sounds of each word.

Tips on how to read with your child

Although a very young child may not be able to understand or concentrate on the full story, you can try talking about what’s happening in the pictures, which is relevant to the child’s developmental stage and interests. At this stage, you can expose children to new vocabulary by describing and pointing out the exciting things within the pictures, rather than the story itself. This also creates opportunities to reinforce the child’s learning elsewhere which supports language development – such as seeing a flower in a book, then when playing in the backyard, pointing out the flowers. This assists with creating connections and linking words to real-world objects.

You can also read aloud and point out interesting or new words in the books to help your child learn new vocabulary.

Asking questions about the pictures on the page can be another way to expand on the language learning opportunities during story times. Just remember, for every question you ask, offer five comments to optimise the amount of new words kids hear during book reading aloud.

The key is to start young as children learn to enjoy the sounds of different words as you read aloud, even before they can read the printed text.

Building book reading into your routine

It can be tricky to stay consistent with story time but building books into your daily routine can help children enjoy the benefits of reading. This can also be a lovely way to spend time together in the early years. Reading aloud with your child at a regularly scheduled time signals to young readers that reading is valuable and fun.

You can take books out with you when you leave the house to enjoy anywhere. School pickup, time at the park, bedtime, and bath time could all be opportunities to read a book together.

How can teachers encourage reading in young children

Teachers can also encourage reading stories with young readers to support children's development of language skills both in the education environment and at home. Teachers can do this by:

  • Provide access to a broad range of books
  • Keeping school libraries organised and inviting
  • Allowing students to choose the books they read
  • Allocate regular reading time to promote independent reading
  • Read aloud to students in the classroom, even to older students
  • Create opportunities for students to share their reading skills

From being a qualified children’s librarian to sharing literature with families and professionals, a love of words has shaped both Bernadette’s personal and professional life.

Bernadette was born deaf before the Newborn Hearing Screening was introduced, and diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of four years old.

“Born hard of hearing, I got by with my limited hearing and, over the years, I taught myself to lip read,” she said.

However, after noticing a slow but gradual decrease in her hearing as she got older, Bernadette started to look into hearing aids as an option.

Bernadette In Blossoms

“I was struggling to hear in noisy situations and hear people speak in low/quiet tones. I wanted to preserve what hearing I did have, with the assistance of hearing aids,” she said.

After searching for a provider for hearing aids and trying a couple of places, Bernadette was excited to find out that Hear and Say was now offering hearing tests and hearing aids for adults.

“My first appointment, I was very nervous. I was not sure what to expect. The audiologist was very understanding, explaining every step of the way what she was doing. I was in awe to see the setup at Hear and Say,” said Bernadette.

Bernadette was initially hesitant about wearing hearing aids due to the stigma of wearing them but a chance encounter with one of Hear and Say’s young clients changed her outlook.

“My problem was my ‘hang up’ about wearing aids. I thought people would treat me differently,” she said.

“When I visited Hear and Say, I sat waiting for my appointment in the reception area. Suddenly, a door opened and out walked a young boy. As he walked past me, I saw he had a hearing aid behind his ear.

“He looked at me and smiled a brilliant smile. I smiled back and said to myself, if this little boy is brave enough to wear a hearing aid, then so am I.”

Now fitted with hearing aids, Bernadette credits them with significantly enhancing her quality of life.

“I wish I had done it years ago! It has changed my life and now I do not leave the house without them,” said Bernadette.

“I enjoy social settings so much more now. With volume adjustments, I can moderate the aids to suit the occasion.” 

An audiogram is a graph that displays the results of a hearing test. It shows the softest sounds someone can hear at different pitches (low, mid, and high frequency sounds), including those required to hear and understand speech (the major speech frequencies). Where the results fall on the audiogram reflects how loud a sound must be for someone to hear it and which speech and environmental sounds can be heard and not heard at their normal volume.

If you or someone you know has had their hearing tested, you might have seen a chart like this:

How is an audiogram done?

The type of hearing test depends on the person's age and abilities. Sounds are played through the speaker, headphones, ear plugs, or headband in a quiet listening environment. The person must indicate that they have heard it in some way - options includes pushing a button, raising a hand, playing a piece in a game, or turning their head to a puppet. The volume of the sound is changed until the softest sound is determined. This is called a hearing threshold. Then different pitches are tested. Adults and older children are tested on six to eight pitches while young children complete four pitches.

Typically, the right ear and left ear is tested separately. When working with young children, sometimes the ears are tested together as they are unable to wear headphones or ear plugs

Air Conduction Testing – Testing starts by measuring the whole ear system working together, via the speakers, headphones, or ear plugs. This is called an air conduction test, because the sound travels through the air, via the ear canal, ear drum, and middle ear bones.

Bone Conduction Testing – If a hearing loss is found, then testing aims to identify what part of the ear is not working. A vibrating box on a headband is used. This is called a bone conduction test because the sound travels through the bones of the skull, directly to the hearing organ or cochlea.

When the sound is played loud enough, both cochleae will hear it, regardless which ear is being tested, as they are close together in the skull. Therefore, whooshing or rain sounds will be play into one ear to distract it while the other ear is tested. This is called masking.

The ability to hear speech is then assessed. The person is asked to point to pictures or repeat words or sentences. This tell us how well a person can hear and understand speech to see how much a hearing loss is impacting a person’s communication.

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What are the different types of hearing loss an audiogram will measure?

An audiogram will help identify not only if someone has a hearing loss, but the type of hearing loss they have. Knowing the degrees of hearing loss, which ear or ears the hearing loss affects, and if the hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural or mixed helps inform what treatment options are best.

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is unable to travel through the outer or middle ear. This could be due to earwax or a foreign object blocking the ear canal, a ruptured ear drum, fluid or infection in the middle ear space, or damage to the middle ear bones. Often conductive losses are temporary and will resolve when the obstruction is removed, the ear drum heals, or the middle ear fluid clears. This can require medical treatment. Some conductive hearing losses are permanent, so it is important to recheck hearing after any medical treatment.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the cochlea cannot detect sound and/or send it via the hearing nerve to the brain. It is often due to the hair cells in the cochlea being absent or damaged. This can be due to an inherited genetic condition, excessive noise exposure, aging, injury, or disease. Sensorineural hearing losses are often permanent.

Mixed hearing loss

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In these cases, there is damage to both the outer/middle and inner ear/cochlea.

How long does an audiogram take?

This depends on the person's age and hearing ability. A full hearing test can take between 40 to 90 minutes. This will likely be longer if a hearing loss is found. This includes about questions about your hearing concerns, hearing history, and general health or lifestyle. It is important to mention any previous ear infections/surgeries, if you experience any dizziness/balance issues, if you have seen an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist (ENT), or if you have a family history of hearing loss (particularly if it is permanent or acquired from a young age). Parents will also be asked if their child passed their newborn hearing screening and about their speech and language development.

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How do you read an audiogram?

The horizontal axis of the audiogram represents the sound’s pitch or frequency range, ranging from 250 to 12,000 hertz (Hz). Most speech is within 250 to 6,000Hz. Vowels are typically low pitch while consonant are typically mid or high pitch. Soft high pitch sounds such as ‘s’, ‘f’, ‘th’ and ‘t’ are often the most difficult to hear because high frequency hearing losses are most common.

The vertical axis shows the sound’s loudness or volume, ranging from -10 to 120 decibels (dB). The closer to the top your results are, the better you can hear sounds.

Each ear is recorded as a separate line on a chart called your audiogram. A blue cross symbol is your left ear and the red circle symbol is your right ear. A black box or ‘s’ symbol shows how a child hears when listening with both ears together. Air conduction results and bone conduction results are also marked separately.

Any sounds below the line can be heard while any sounds above the line cannot be heard.

What does normal hearing look like on an audiogram?

Normal hearing for children and adults is between -10 and 20dB.

A hearing loss occurs when hearing is at 25dB or greater. The severity of a hearing loss is determined by how loud sounds must be for them to be heard. The severity of hearing loss may change between different pitches and between each ear.

  • Mild hearing loss = 25-40dB
  • Moderate hearing loss = 45-65dB
  • Severe hearing loss = 70-85dB
  • Profound hearing loss = 90dB or greater
Toddler Reading Box With Adult
Boy Wearing Cochlear Implant

Who should get an audiogram?

If you are worried about your hearing or suspect you have a hearing loss, a hearing test is recommended. Here are some common symptoms of hearing loss:

  • Missing what people say.
  • Asking people to repeat themselves.
  • Asking people to speak clearer or stop mumbling.
  • A ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus).
  • Difficulties following conversations.
  • Difficulties talking on the phone.
  • Turning up the volume on the TV or radio.
  • Difficulties hearing people when it is noisy, for example in a restaurant or at the shops.
  • Using lots of effort when listening or finding listening tiring.

Children may also show delays in their speech and language development.

What’s next?

Following a hearing test, the audiologist will talk through the hearing test results, including if there is a hearing loss.

If there is a hearing loss, a treatment plan will be discussed. This may include watchful waiting, further/repeat testing, seeing an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist (ENT), using communication strategies, trialing hearing aids, or considering a cochlear implant.

For people who require hearing aids, the audiologist will use the audiogram results to determine how to program the hearing aids so that the person can hear clearly.

Hear and Say provides an array of audiology services for people of all ages, including comprehensive hearing tests, hearing aid fitting and management, tinnitus assessments, and hearing/cochlear implant services.

Find out more or book your hearing test today.

Contact us

Whether it's to listen to music or the TV, for a call at work, or to study, headphones are a regular part of everyday life for many of us. However, for people who also use hearing devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, using headphones to tailor your listening experience comes with some careful considerations.

If you have hearing aids or a cochlear implant, the first step is to check with your audiologist if the device has Bluetooth technology. If they do, you can stream sound and play audio directly from your smartphone or another wireless device, cutting out the need for headphones altogether.

"You will get the best sound directly via your hearing aids or cochlear implants, depending on the hearing technology you have for your specific hearing loss“, said Hear and Say Audiologist, Anna Whittington.

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Things to consider when buying headphones with hearing aids

For some people with a hearing device, tracking down suitable and compatible headphones can be challenging.

Over-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, bone-conduction headphones, earbuds, in-ear headphones, stereo headphones, and noise-cancelling; there are a lot of options, and it can be a trial-and-error process.

When it comes to wearing headphones and finding the best headphones for you and your individual needs, the main factor to consider is fit.

For hearing aid users, it is important to find headphones that fit comfortably around your hearing aid microphones. If your headphones do not sit up and over the microphones, then you may not pick up any sound, so over-the-ear models can be a great option.

Ensure you also check for audio feedback – that is, listening for a whistling noise coming from the hearing aid – when using this style of headphones. If there is feedback, try repositioning the headphones, or test out a few models to determine what suits you best. Your Hear and Say Audiologist can assist you if hearing aid adjustment is required.

If the hearing loss is mild or in one ear only, some people may also prefer the sound without their hearing aids. Standard headphones can be used in this case, but a number of modern headphones can be customised to exactly match your hearing level. Speak to your Hear and Say Audiologist for more information.

In addition to fit, sound quality, noise isolation, and noise cancellation technology can be important and allow you to enjoy your music at lower volumes. If, however, you need to be aware of ambient sound, bone-conduction headphones may be a great choice for you.

Regardless of whether you wear hearing aids that are in-the-ear or behind-the-ear, there are some great headphones to suit.

Finding suitable headphones for In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

Finding the right fit for headphones and hearing aids can be easier for smaller ITE types of hearing aids. These include:

  • Invisible in the canal (IIC hearing aids);
  • In the canal (ITC);
  • Completely in canal (CIC hearing aids); and
  • Low-profile hearing aids.

These types of hearing aids all fit directly discreetly in the ear canal or in the ear and are generally compatible with on-ear headphones and over-the-ear headphones. Invisible in the canal hearing aid wearers may also be able to wear earbuds.

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Finding suitable headphones for Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids

If your hearing aids sit behind the ear, the options for headphones are limited. These include:

  • Behind-the-ear;
  • Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC); and
  • Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE).

Whilst hearing aids range in size, these all have a component that sits behind the outer ear and won’t work with on-ear headphones. Headphones that can be customised to your hearing may be a suitable solution.

Look for large styles that fit comfortably over both the ear and the hearing aid, so that sound can reach the hearing aid microphone without it being covered by the headphone’s cushioning. It is important to try on different models because if they do not fit completely over, the hearing aids will pick up external sound instead.

What are bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction headphones don't actually rest on the ear, but directly in front on the listener's cheekbones. These specialised wireless headphones are gathering attention because, unlike traditional headphones and earbuds, the eardrum doesn’t vibrate to pass the information along to the cochlea. Rather, the vibrations from the bone conduction bee-lines for the cochlea instead.

With the lack of eardrum involvement, this technology is good for people with hearing deficiencies, as the bone conduction vibration acts in lieu of the eardrum.

These headphones are ideal for in-the-ear hearing aids, in the canal, completely in the canal, or invisible in the canal hearing aid user. Plus, some bone-conduction headphones are waterproof and can even be worn swimming.

Can bone-conduction headphones damage your hearing?

Even though these headphones bypass your outer ear and middle ear entirely, they still send sound to the cochlea and they can still damage your hearing if used improperly or at too high a volume. Like all headphones if used correctly, bone-conduction headphones are safe to use.

If you work in an office space, live in a city, and want to remain aware of background noise like traffic while walking or cycling, bone-conduction headphones may be a great solution!

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Audeara A-02 wireless headphones and TV bundle

Audeara A-02 over-the-ear headphones can be programmed for optimal listening for anyone with mild up to severe hearing loss and are available in your nearest Hear and Say centre. As an approved Assistive Listening Device, Audeara headphones may be purchased using Government funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and RAP Program of Hearing Services Program (HSP).

Still not sure which headphones are best suited? Speak with you Hear and Say Audiologist or hearing healthcare professional.

We’re here to help. Book a hearing test or speech and language assessment for your child.

Get in touch

We’re proud to announce Hear and Say is working with the Queensland Department of Education to deliver the Kindergarten Inclusion Service. Kindy is for all children, and children of all abilities.

All children and families benefit from having access to inclusive early learning and development activities that promote positive outcomes.

We’re ready to support approved kindergartens to be inclusion ready for children with additional and complex needs.

We offer advice, support and resources to empower and upskill educators in kindergarten programs to create a welcoming place so all children can learn in ways that work best for them.

Children experience inclusion when they fully engage and can meaningfully participate in quality early learning.

Parents and caregivers feel included when their role as their child’s first teacher is acknowledged and they are empowered to contribute to the learning and growth of their child.

Inclusion remains everyone’s priority and is supported by effective policies and every day practices across all early years’ settings.

We look forward to supporting kindergarten teachers and educators in their important work.

Request more information

Almost one year old Archibald loves reading books, going on walks, playing at the local park, and playing chase (albeit only crawling away), and of all things – bananas!

Archibald was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss at three weeks old. His mum, Cassandra, said they had mixed emotions, but they were immediately interested in finding out more information.

“We were shocked and overwhelmed as it was quite a sad realisation that he wasn’t going to hear normally however we were also interested to learn more about what this meant for Archibald’s future,” said Cassandra.

Archibald and family

 

“It took us quite some time to process that he couldn’t hear. However, Romans 8:28 says, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’”

“At 11 weeks old, Archibald was fitted with hearing aids, which due to his profound hearing loss, added limited benefit however gave him some access to sound,” she said.

The family found out about Hear and Say via Hearing Australia when Archibald was fitted with hearing aids.

“Hearing Australia provided options and after talking to other families, we visited Hear and Say and decided that they would be able to best cater for Archibald’s immediate and future needs,” said Cassandra.

“They were also super friendly and helpful during the journey leading up to receiving his implants.”

At nine months old, Archibald underwent cochlear implant surgery and had his implant switched on to sound for the first time two weeks later at Hear and Say’s Ashgrove centre. 

“We had the switch on at Hear and Say, and are now continuing to come in regularly for audiology appointments to program the cochlear implant as well as speech therapy fortnightly to help catch Archibald up to his peers in terms of his speech and language,” said Cassandra.

“We are blessed to be in a country that has such fantastic support both financially and emotionally. We are so thankful for the amazing technology available to test and equip Archibald with the ability to hear at such a young age,” she said.

“Hear and Say have been amazing and very caring, and has given our family amazing encouragement for us as parents and helping Archibald reach his best potential.

Archibald Switch on

Cassandra reflected on Archibald’s diagnosis of hearing loss now, nearly one year after finding out.

“We are excited to see him grow, and experience sounds in our world in a new way. He’s still our beautiful little boy and we love him so much. Even without his implants, this wouldn’t change,” said Cassandra.

“We know that Archibald’s hearing loss is part of God’s plan and purpose, we don’t understand at this point in time for what reason this has happened, but at some point, we will look back and understand as we see him use this as blessing to those around him and for God’s glory.”

Gold Coast toddler Kove is a bit of a groover, dancing and singing to music with his sister. He’s also a big fan of the outdoors from going down the slides at the park to going to the beach. Quiet time is also a fan favourite for Kove, who loves to sit in his parents Jarrad and Kirstie’s laps to read a book. 

Kove’s hearing was screened at birth through the universal newborn hearing screening where he received a refer result. Through follow up testing at Gold Coast University Hospital he was diagnosed with a unilateral hearing loss at three months old.

Img Kove Wearing Hearing Aids

“Kove has a moderate hearing loss in his right ear where he wears a hearing aid, and typical hearing in his left,” said Kove’s mum, Kirstie.

“I found that there was no drastic responses or feelings to this diagnosis as we were well informed by the teams every step of the way. We had an abundance of support from all of the services, so I can honestly say we were at ease with his diagnosis,” she said.

Kove experienced multiple hospitalisations due to illness which caused a mass of fluid to be present until he was almost 12 months old.

“He was then able to have grommet surgery which helped with being more receptive to sounds and also learning to make sounds,” said Kirstie.

“We as a family feel that Kove’s diagnosis is ‘normal’. We haven’t changed our feelings about it. He is still our baby and is still learning to communicate the same way, we just know how to help him understand better,” she said.

The family heard about Hear and Say through the hospital and Hearing Australia, who fitted  Kove’s hearing aid.

“We go to Hear and Say’s Varsity Lakes centre on the Gold Coast once a month for speech pathology,” said Kirstie.

“It has been an amazing experience to have Fiona as Kove’s speech pathologist since the early days. It has made some transitions so much easier,” she said.

“It has allowed us to have a better understanding of the way we communicate with Kove as well as others around him. It has also helped support our families and friends in the best way to effectively communicate with Kove.

“Watching the relationship the team has built with Kove has been a heart-warming experience! We have nothing but appreciation for the care and support we have received from the team at the Gold Coast centre!”

Img Kove With His Sister In A Shopping Trolley

Representing Australia in the Deaf International Cricket Cup reinforced for Liam how life-changing sport can be. At 22 years old, Liam played the T20 World Cup in Dubai.

“Competing was an absolute honour and privilege. I had an incredible time with all my fellow teammates. We finished last in the competition, but in a few years’ time I feel as though we will be a team that is hard to beat,” said Liam.

Liam representing Australia in cricket

As a young baby Liam was diagnosed with profound hearing loss, and at 18 months old he received his first cochlear implant on his left side. It was common practice to implant on one side only at this point in time. When Liam was in Prep he got a cochlear implant on his right too.


As a child Liam came to Hear and Say for audiology and specialised speech therapy lessons. This early intervention meant that Liam grew up able to hear and speak, which he doesn’t take for granted.


“It’s been a huge effort by the passionate audiologists and speech therapists working at Hear and Say, and by my Mum and Dad. A lot of credit [goes] to them, I get a lot of compliments about how well I’m able to speak,” said Liam.


Growing up Liam went to his local schools and played sport, and as he got older his interest was piqued in Deaf sports.

“I’ve found most of my connections through playing sport. There are so many different sports you can play in the Deaf community and being surrounded by people who are similar to you is actually really, really cool and rewarding,” said Liam.

“With Deaf sports, you can’t actually wear your cochlear implant processors, so to communicate you use sign language.”

The team uses a mix of methods to communicate. There are players like Liam who wear hearing devices and speak, and some teammates hear, speak and use sign language. One player is solely reliant on sign language. In the midst of a game, everyone signs.

“Learning how to communicate via sign and be inclusive of those facing hearing loss challenges is awesome and something that has pushed me to enjoy the game and experience what it’s like in those situations,” said Liam.

“A big part of it is watching your captain and being able to communicate with him. He’s doing a lot of communicating to tell you where you need to be.”

Australian cricket

Liam also plays social football and basketball with his mates. During these games he wears his cochlear implants and says verbal communication is critical. When playing Deaf cricket however, Liam explained there is something special about the quiet.

“I feel I have this sense of calmness when I don’t have my cochlear implant processor on because I'm with myself and my thoughts. As a bowler, it's good when I'm at the top of my run up, to be able to focus on one goal and block all the noise out,” said Liam.

Liam is studying physiotherapy and has a world of opportunity ahead of him. From his own experience growing up with hearing loss, he shared his advice for parents who have just found out their child is deaf.

Liam posing with friend in Dubai

“Try and get your kids involved in sports or group activities so they’re in social settings, I think this really helps to build confidence,” said Liam.

“If they can be socially confident it might help build their confidence about themselves as well. Try and get them outside of their comfort bubble, challenge them to do new things,” he said.

After representing Australia in Deaf sports Liam reflected on how important communication was and expressed how lucky he felt.

“To be able to hear and speak means everything [to me]. I think what Deaf sport has also made me realise is that communication is a massive thing, without it you can’t express how you feel,” said Liam.

“To be able to speak is one thing but to be able to hear is a whole other experience in itself. It’s incredible to be able to do both those things.”

Five-year-old Prep student Sam from Bushland Beach, just north of Townsville, was born with mild to moderate mixed hearing loss however hasn’t let it hold him back.

He keeps himself entertained, like any five year old, playing hide and seek and soccer. He enjoys going to the playground or beach with his brother Miles as well as dancing to the Shrek soundtrack, going to the local library and museum.

Img Sam And His Brother

“Sam was diagnosed with a hearing loss during his newborn screening test. The nurse thought there was an error and ran it a second time with the same result,” said Karen, Sam’s mum.

“She didn’t save the initial test, and came back the next day to run it again to see if new equipment gave a different reading,” she said.

“When the results were the same, she advised that Sam would need further testing and talked us through the referral process and what would happen next.

Sam’s parents hadn’t given any thought to Sam potentially being born with hearing loss as they didn’t have any family members with hearing issues.

“Sam’s hearing journey has been a bag of mixed responses. While in Brisbane, we kept receiving a mild hearing loss diagnosis and were told he should be fine, it’s only mild. Come back for more tests in one year and we’ll check any improvements or declines,” said Karen.

“Over three years, Sam had roughly five hearing tests, most unable to be completed as he’d get restless, yet the results were the same – mild hearing loss, come back next year. We were told Hearing Australia wouldn’t do anything until he was school age,” she said.

The family were then referred to the Childhood Health Hearing Clinic in Brisbane however with a sudden work transfer to Townsville plans changed quickly, which is when they were referred to local Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist Dr Shane Anderson for a follow up.

“It was Dr Anderson who referred Sam to Hear and Say as he told me he loved their individual response to children and were great at what they did,” said Karen.

“Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our start with Hear and Say was delayed and we finally found a window of good health for Sam, and met with Liza, Audiologist and Listening and Spoken Language Therapist, a couple of times to complete the testing and assessment,” she said.

Img Sam And His Brother Playing In The Garden Hose

In late 2022 Sam was fitted with a hearing aid, and started Prep in 2023 at his local school, and continues to see Hear and Say each fortnight for regular specialised speech therapy.

“Sam has had hearing tests, speech and language assessment and now ongoing speech and language therapy through Hear and Say,” said Karen.

Img Sam Wearing His Blue And Red Hearing Aid

“Liza has been fantastic at being Sam’s champion when it comes to hearing loss. She has advocated for him to get a hearing aid as well as visited his school and met his teacher to talk her through using the remote microphone system technology,” she said.

“It was when we went to Hear and Say that I felt Sam’s hearing loss was deemed ‘real’. Liza acknowledged a hearing loss is a hearing loss, and even mild hearing losses can have consequences on speech and language, education and developmental milestones should be addressed and supported.

“It was such a relief we had finally found someone who supported our views, and actively set out to help Sam with his hearing loss.

“It opened our life to a whole new world of deaf and hard of hearing families. Educating myself at the start of this journey was key, so I armed myself with all the knowledge I could get to be able to support Sam.”

Unilateral hearing loss is when someone experiences hearing loss in one ear only. Generally speaking, if unilateral hearing loss is severe-to-profound, it can also be referred to as single-sided deafness.

The degree of unilateral hearing loss can range from mild to profound. Causes can include genetic disorders, viral infections, trauma or when a someone is born with specific ear abnormalities (for example, microtia and atresia). In many cases, the reason for unilateral hearing loss unknown.

Back Of Women's Head With Cochlear Implant

How common is unilateral hearing loss in Australia?

Unilateral hearing loss can occur in both children and adults. If a baby has hearing loss at birth it is diagnosed though the newborn hearing screening. As children get older, it is also possible for them to develop hearing loss, with the instances of hearing loss doubling by the time they reach school age. It’s also possible for adults to develop hearing loss, this might be a result of noise induced hearing loss, injury, or illness.

What are the symptoms of unilateral hearing loss?

The signs and symptoms of unilateral hearing loss include:

  • Favouring one ear when having conversations or talking on the phone
  • Often asking others to repeat what they’ve said
  • Feeling tired at the end of the day, likely from straining to listen
  • Struggling to work out the direction sound is coming from (localisation)
  • Have ringing in one ear (tinnitus)
  • Participate less in social situations
  • Struggling to understand speech in noisy environments

What causes unilateral hearing loss?

Unilateral hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors including:

  • Genetics
  • Accident, trauma or head injury
  • Viral or bacterial infections
  • Illness during pregnancy (e.g. cytomegalovirus)
  • Microtia and atresia
  • Ménière’s disease
  • Mastoiditis
  • Excessive noise exposure
Lady With Hearing Aid Talking To Man

What is the impact of unilateral hearing loss?

If unilateral hearing loss is left untreated, it has the potential to impact people’s speech and language, social and emotional wellbeing and educational progress in both children and young adults.

Man And Girl Laughing Looking At Each Other

People may have difficulty with:

Sound localisation: the ability to find where a sound is coming from. Sound will appear louder when closer to the better hearing ear. Sounds coming from a variety of directions may also be hard to locate, for example, when a child is playing in a playground or listening to peers in a classroom or in a noisy cafe.

Hearing speech in background noise: someone with unilateral or single-sided deafness will be better able to pick up speech if it’s directed to their better-hearing ear. Separating speech from background noise can be difficult especially hearing in a classroom or a restaurant.

Hearing from a distance: struggling to hear and understand people if they are standing at a distance, for example a farmer or construction working might find it challenging to hearing instructions if the person they’re talking to is not immediately next to them.

How is unilateral hearing loss diagnosed?

Unilateral hearing loss is diagnosed with a hearing test. They type of hearing test can range depending on the age of the person.

For newborn babies they are often diagnosed through the universal newborn hearing screening. If a baby is referred for further testing for one ear, an appointment with an audiologist is made within six weeks. The audiologist will then conduct an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. This assessment is painless and is conducted while the baby is asleep.

For toddlers and young children, behavioural hearing tests are often used to diagnose hearing loss.

For anyone older children and adults hearing tests take about 60 to 90 minutes and involve a series of non-invasive assessments.

Can unilateral hearing loss be corrected?

For some people their hearing loss is temporary, however often unilateral hearing loss is permanent. Hearing technology, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, can help correct hearing loss and provide improved access to sound.

What can be done to treat unilateral hearing loss?

Hearing technology, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, can often improve hearing. The severity of the hearing loss and lifestyle of the individual will help determine what device is best.

Teenage Girls With Cochlear Implants

Hearing aids

Hearing aids are a common technology used to treat hearing loss. Hearing aids amplify existing hearing and, when worn consistently, can help prevent further deterioration of hearing by keeping the brain's auditory pathways stimulated. In the case of unilateral hearing loss, the hearing aid would only be worn on the poorer-hearing ear. Potential hearing aid options include traditional behind-the-ear; contralateral routing of signal (CROS); and bone conduction models.

Lady Holding Cochlear Implant

Cochlear implants

Implantable technologies, such as a cochlear implant, are suitable for people with permanent, severe to profound unilateral hearing loss. Through surgery, a cochlear implant is implanted – bypassing the normal hearing process. A cochlear implant performs the function of the inner ear by converting sounds to electric signals that stimulate the auditory nerve.

Use of a wireless communication device (WCD) system in the better hearing ear

Working with hearing aids or cochlear implants, wireless communication device systems improve understanding of speech in noisy environments by transmitting the speech signal directly to the better hearing ear, via a remote microphone used by whoever is speaking.

Early Intervention

Early intervention and support from a team of specialists, including audiologists, speech pathologists and ENT surgeons, can help the person with hearing loss to hear and speak to the best of their ability. These professionals work together to help ensure they can reach their full potential. Seeking support as soon as possible is vital to achieving the best possible outcomes.

We’re here to help. Book a hearing test or speech and language assessment for your child.

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