Language Development in Children and the Effects of Hearing Loss

Listening & Spoken Language

Intermediate

Self-Study

10hr 14min

Continuing Education

10.00 AG Bell CEUs
1.00 ASHA CEUs

Register until Dec. 30, 2026

Join to Get Started!

It's free and easy to join the Hearing First community.

Help & Support

See All FAQs

Course Overview
Course Outline

Course Overview

This course will cover language development in children, with a focus on developmental trajectories of the five domains of language: semantics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics. Participants will explore how a hearing loss diagnosis and listening through a hearing aid or cochlear implant are likely to influence development across those domains. Discussion will include theories of development, milestones and the influence of a hearing loss diagnosis, and red flags for delayed development. Participants will have the opportunity to review and discuss clinical cases to apply the material. 

Course Timeline

30 Days

Primary Audience

LSL Professionals

Key Outcomes

Compare and contrast theories of language development and their implications for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Identify key developmental milestones in semantic language development.
Describe the development of phonology and the influence of hearing loss on that development.
Analyze similarities and differences in morphological and syntactic development in children with typical hearing compared to those who are deaf and hard of hearing and learning spoken language.
Describe the role of pragmatics and discourse on the development of communicative competence.

Course Outline

Language Development Overview
2h 4m
[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:e35248a2-bfce-49cc-9c96-77361178b3df:title=Video%28s%29&duration=3720&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIntroduction%20and%20Outline%20%7C%26nbsp%3B5m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDefinition%20of%20language%20%7C%2010m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDimensions%20of%20language%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETheories%20of%20language%20development%20%7C%2022m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERole%20of%20listening%20on%20language%20acquisition%20%7C%26nbsp%3B10m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:887ff0a8-ef44-46f4-a1ea-5e340ad048d9:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3720&itemdetails=]
Video(s)
1h 2m
- Introduction and Outline | 5m
- Definition of language | 10m
- Dimensions of language | 15m
- Theories of language development | 22m
- Role of listening on language acquisition | 10m
Live Session Recording
1h 2m
Semantic and Lexical Development
2h 2m
[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:4332e6dc-fc4f-42ba-9171-73bee7c3ad03:title=Video%28s%29&duration=3720&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntroduction%20and%20Outline%20%7C%205m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDefinitions%20of%20semantics%2C%20lexical%20knowledge%20and%20vocabulary%20%7C%2012m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETypes%20of%20lexical%20and%20semantic%20knowledge%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMilestones%20in%20lexical%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERole%20of%20listening%20in%20lexical%20%2F%20semantic%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:69b35cbf-6056-45e7-8840-430de7eafe97:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3600&itemdetails=]
Video(s)
1h 2m
- Introduction and Outline | 5m
- Definitions of semantics, lexical knowledge and vocabulary | 12m
- Types of lexical and semantic knowledge | 15m
- Milestones in lexical development | 15m
- Role of listening in lexical / semantic development | 15m
Live Session Recording
1h
Phonological Development
2h 2m
[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:7b8b7776-7ce8-4825-9bf3-1ef14aa46424:title=Video%28s%29&duration=3720&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntroduction%20and%20Outline%20%7C%205m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDefinitions%20of%20phonology%20and%20articulation%20%7C%2012m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20development%20of%20phonological%20knowledge%20%7C15m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMilestones%20in%20phonological%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERole%20of%20listening%20in%20phonological%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:fdc7d440-919c-4402-9230-69030b7336f9:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3600&itemdetails=]
Video(s)
1h 2m
- Introduction and Outline | 5m
- Definitions of phonology and articulation | 12m
- The development of phonological knowledge |15m
- Milestones in phonological development | 15m
- Role of listening in phonological development | 15m
Live Session Recording
1h
Morpho-Syntactic Development
2h 1m
[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:1905943c-320a-46b4-8585-03d5a7de3135:title=Video%28s%29&duration=3600&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntroduction%20and%20Outline%20%7C%205m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDefinitions%20of%20morphology%20and%20syntax%20%7C%2010m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDevelopment%20of%20morpho-syntactic%20knowledge%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMilestones%20in%20morpho-syntactic%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERole%20of%20listening%20in%20morphological%20and%20syntactic%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:f74f9c76-24ae-4b55-a62a-c9ea61cdf1b5:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3660&itemdetails=]
Video(s)
1h
- Introduction and Outline | 5m
- Definitions of morphology and syntax | 10m
- Development of morpho-syntactic knowledge | 15m
- Milestones in morpho-syntactic development | 15m
- Role of listening in morphological and syntactic development | 15m
Live Session Recording
1h 1m
Pragmatic Development
2h 5m
[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:b2e0a1e2-1c4b-4ea9-b019-fc615c3e99c7:title=Video%28s%29&duration=3780&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntroduction%20and%20Outline%20%7C%205m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDefinition%20of%20pragmatics%20and%20discourse%20%7C%2013m%20%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMilestones%20in%20pragmatic%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERole%20of%20listening%20in%20pragmatic%20development%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECommunicative%20Competence%3A%20tying%20it%20all%20together%20%7C%2015m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:49220a46-194f-43e8-abd2-affcebdbee9a:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3720&itemdetails=]
Video(s)
1h 3m
- Introduction and Outline | 5m
- Definition of pragmatics and discourse | 13m
- Milestones in pragmatic development | 15m
- Role of listening in pragmatic development | 15m
- Communicative Competence: tying it all together | 15m
Live Session Recording
1h 2m

Featuring

Emily Lund
PhD, CCC-SLP
View Profile

Emily Lund, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor in the Davies School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Associate Dean for Research in the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Lund's work focuses on spoken and written language learning in children with language disorders secondary to another diagnosis, with particular focus on hearing loss. Her work has been funded by NIH/NIDCD and the ASHFoundation.

Financial Disclosures: Dr. Lund receives salary with expectation of research dissemination from Texas Christian University. She is a recipient of a grant funded by NIH/NIDCD. She also receives compensation from Hearing First for teaching this course.

Non-financial Disclosures: Dr. Lund is an Editor for the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research (Language section).

Learning with Hearing First

Simple and straightforward — so you can focus on learning!

Getting Started

This is your central hub where you can stay up to date with the latest announcements, information, and your progress in this course. Helpful reminders will also keep you on track!

Learn More

Your Learning Progress

Wrapping Up

The Hearing First learning experiences are designed to foster the understanding and application of the science and art of audiology and LSL practice. The opinions and comments of facilitators and learners in these learning experiences are theirs and not necessarily the viewpoints shared by Hearing First. As a reminder, Hearing First Learning Experiences are governed by and subject to the Hearing First Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Community Code of Conduct, and we encourage all Community Members participating in a Hearing First Learning Experience to review our policies regularly. Hearing First provides free learning experiences to its community members, offering links to open-access resources (handouts, articles, videos) for educational purposes. While we've exercised our right to access and share these resources for charitable and educational use, we make no representations or assume liability regarding your rights. Please familiarize yourself with the publisher's copyright notices, restrictions, and requirements, and note that republishing is solely at your discretion. [ Read More ]

Hearing First is approved by the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language to offer Continuing Education Hours for Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) certification. This program has been approved for a maximum of 10.00 CEUs. AG Bell Academy approval of this course is based on information shared by the approved provider. Views shared by the presenter(s) may not necessarily reflect the views of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language either in part or whole.

Hearing First Intermediate Level
1.00 ASHA CEUs

ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.