Language development and everyday functioning of children with hearing loss assessed at 3 years of age

Abstract

This paper reports language ability and everyday functioning of 133 children with hearing impairment who were evaluated at 3 years of age, as part of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study. The language abilities of children were evaluated using the Preschool Language Scale (PLS-4), Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP) and Child Development Inventory (CDI). Everyday functioning of children was evaluated by interviewing parents using the Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/oral performance of Children (PEACH) questionnaire. There were significant correlations among language measures, and also between the standardized language measures and the PEACH. On average, children who had language deficits exhibited difficulties in everyday functioning. The evidence lends support to a systematic use of parents’ observations to evaluate communicative functioning of children in real life. On average, children’s language attainment decreased as hearing loss increased, more so for children of less highly educated parents. Factors that were not significantly associated with speech and language outcomes at 3 years were age of amplification and socioeconomic status. As multiple factors affect children’s outcomes, it will be possible to examine their effects on outcomes of children when all data in the LOCHI study are available.

Satisfaction with Life among Mothers of Pediatric Cochlear Implant Candidates: The Impact of Implant Operation and Sociodemographic Factors

“…In fact, among multiple factors affecting developmental outcomes of children with hearing impairment, the effect of timing of intervention is considered the minimal as compared with other demographic factors related to the child and family [13,27] .…”

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Early Intervention and the Role of Parents in Language Development of Hearing Loss Children

“…Children with mothers who showed better communication skills with them had more speaking and reading scores and less behavioral problems [36]. Ching et al reported that the educational level of parents of children with hearing loss has significant effects on language output [33]. The greatest progress was seen in children whose families had the highest level of participation in the early intervention program.…”

“…In addition to the age of children at intervention and the role of parents, other factors such as educational status, use of sign language in the home, intelligence, use of hearing aids, and hearing impairment starts, may also cause differences between the hearing-impaired children and normal children [23,33]. Therefore, it is essential to consider the age of receiving hearing aids and parental involvement in intervention as the most important factors in children's education and designing treatment programs.…”

Cochlear Implants in Children: A Review

“…It has also been observed that some children with cochlear implants are even able to learn language more quickly than the average child with normal hearing and therefore 'catch up' some of the delay in language acquisition incurred before they received a cochlear implant, with reports of language development at age-appropriate levels between the ages of 4 and 7 years (Yoshinaga-Itano et al, 2010). As with speech perception and speech production, there is still enormous variation in language skills between individuals and between different populations of children (Spencer et al, 2003), with recent reports still documenting many children with significant language delays (Ching, 2010;Connor et al, 2000;Sarant et al, 2009;Young & Killen, 2002).…”