A key objective when fi tting hearing aids to children is to maximize the audibility of high frequency speech cues which are critical in the understanding of spoken English. Recent advances in digital signal processing have enabled the development of hearing aids which offer linear frequency transposition as a new way of accessing these important speech sounds. This study examined the changes in aided performance observed in children with hearing impairment who trialed the alternative hearing aid technology. The rationale behind the research was to evaluate the benefi ts of this new technology, as applied in the commercially available Widex Inteo hearing aid, for a group of children with sloping high frequency sensori-neural hearing loss (n = 6). The participants were aged between 9 and 14 years and all attended mainstream schools. Outcome measures were comprised of tests of speech perception and speech production and questionnaires. Speech perception abilities were measured using CNC word and phoneme tests, with and without frequency transposition in both the audiovisual and visual alone modalities at 6 weekly intervals for 24 weeks. The Goldman-Fristoe 2 Test of Articulation was the chosen measure of speech production and was administered prior to the new aid fi tting and after 24 weeks of frequency transposition use. Results showed statistically signifi cant improvements for the group as a whole on both these measures. These results were supported by positive reporting on the questionnaires completed by key stakeholders.

A key objective when fi tting hearing aids to children is to

Objectives:The parent-child relationship is one of the strongest predictors of a child's adjustment during adulthood. Many hearing-impaired children have normal hearing families, and this issue adversely affects the parent-child relationship; however, studies on interventions have focused on high-risk clinical specimens. Methods:The effect of the Faranak parent-child program (Persian version of Parent-Child Mother Goose Program) on the quality of mother-child relationship has been evaluated in this study, which involved families having preschool, hearing-impaired children. A group of 14 mothers with hearing-impaired children participated in this 12-week program. The control group received no training. Both groups were asked to complete the Gerrard parent-child questionnaire before and after the intervention program to assess their relationship with their children before and after the program. Results:The mothers who were part of the experiment group reported many positive changes in their relationship with the child during the program. Discussion:The Frank Parent-Child Mother Goose Program could help families with hearingimpaired children in this 12-week community-based program, wherein parents learned skills that affect the relationship between mother and child.