From Speech and Hearing to School Readiness: Supporting Early Learning

First published September 2013
Updated February 2026

Did you know that developing age-appropriate speech-language skills and proper hearing abilities are crucial for brain development and future school success? Luckily, speech and hearing skills can be monitored, and early detection and intervention can be put in place.

For example, audiologists are conducting universal newborn hearing screenings prior to discharge. A hearing screening is a way to assess a baby’s “risk” for hearing loss. Additionally, your child’s pediatrician is also monitoring hearing and is asking parents early speech and language screening questions during well-checks.

Early Intervention

Families who have concerns about their child’s speech, hearing, or development have multiple pathways to support. Early intervention services are available for children from birth to age 3 through county-based programs, and school districts offer free, tax-funded special education preschool services for eligible children ages 3–6. In addition, families can access evaluation and therapy services through healthcare systems using insurance, often with a referral from their child’s primary care provider.

Speech and language skills are used in every part of learning and communicating with other children in school. In kindergarten, children learn the routine and structure of a typical school day and need to be able to follow directions, understand ideas learned in class, communicate well with their classmates and teachers, practice beginning reading and use appropriate social skills within the classroom and during play. Normal hearing in children is important for normal language development. If a child has hearing problems, it can affect their ability to learn, speak, or understand language.

Kindergarten Readiness

As families prepare their child for kindergarten, additional systems are in place to help identify developmental strengths and areas that may need support. In Ohio, all public-school districts and community schools are required to administer the Ohio Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Revised (KRA-R) at the beginning of the school year to students entering kindergarten for the first time. Some charted nonpublic schools also choose to participate.

The KRA-R measures school readiness based on Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards, and evaluates children across four key areas:

• Social Foundations
• Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

The results help educators understand how children develop as they enter school and contribute to statewide summary reports.

While statewide assessments help identify school readiness once children enter kindergarten, families can access support even earlier through programs focused on preparing children before the school year begins.

A Whole-Child Effort

At Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), kindergarten readiness is viewed as a whole-child effort that starts well before the first day of school. Through the Kindergarten Readiness Program, embedded within NCH primary care practices, families of children ages 3-5 receive early support to help build essential learning and developmental skills.

Trained coordinators partner with families to screen early literacy, language, and developmental skills, while also identifying concerns related to speech, hearing, or learning. Families receive individualized guidance based on their child’s strengths and areas for growth, along with practical, easy to use activities they can do at home to support listening skills, following directions, early reading, and social interaction.

When concerns are identified, families are supported with connections to appropriate services, including speech-language therapy, hearing evaluations, early intervention, and community preschool resources. The goal is early identification, early support, and strong family partnerships, so children enter kindergarten confident and prepared to learn.

A Helpful Roadmap

The American Speech-Hearing-Language Association (ASHA) outlines expected hearing, understanding, and talking milestones for children entering kindergarten. These milestones provide parents and caregivers with a helpful roadmap of what to expect during the early years of development, including communication and feeding skills.

Tracking milestones can also help alert families to early signs of a potential developmental delay or disorder. ASHA offers free resources such as milestone checklist by age, printable handouts, quizzes, and other tools to help families feel informed and confident about their child’s development ASHA website.

Early awareness, routine screening, and supportive programs working together can make a meaningful difference, helping children build strong foundations for communication, learning and long-term school success.