Mental health in children with severe hearing impairment

Abstract

SummaryDeafness does not in itself cause emotional/behavioural or cognitive problems or psychiatric disorders. However, children with hearing impairment are at greater risk of developing emotional/behavioural problems and neurodevelopmental disorders. The incidence of both seems to be higher in deaf children from hearing families. Most prelingual deafness is caused by recessive genes; hence, most deaf individuals come from hearing families, the majority of whom do not use sign language. Numerous studies, in both hearing and deaf populations, show how the lack of access to language has an impact on the emotional development of children. This article focuses on the mechanisms by which early language deprivation mediates emotional/behavioural difficulties and consequent emotional dysregulation, and may produce behaviours and symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as neurodevelopmental disorders in deaf children and adolescents (from infancy to 18 years of age).

Language and reading comprehension in middle childhood predicts emotional and behaviour difficulties in adolescence for those with permanent childhood hearing loss

“…This conclusion supports the argument made by Gentili and Holwell (2011) concerning the crucial need for efficient language acquisition in those with PCHL to reduce the risk of mental health problems. There are intervention programmes available for those with speech, language and communication needs, although the evidence base for their effectiveness is weak (Dockrell, Lindsay, Roulstone, & Law, 2014).…”

“…There are a number of possible mechanisms that could produce a link between comprehension abilities and EBD in those with PCHL (see Gentili & Holwell, 2011 for an overview). These include the possible impact of language comprehension difficulties on mediators such as theory of mind, executive function and emotional regulation.…”

“…The relationship between language and EBD has also been studied in children who are deaf (see review by Gentili & Holwell, 2011)). Studies of children with PCHL assessed below the age of 2 years found that they showed more EBD than hearing children (e.g.…”

Psychological well-being of parents and family caregivers of children with hearing impairment in south India: Influence of behavioural problems in children and social support

“…Such delayed language acquisition is more likely to infl uence the emotional development and elevate mental health problems in children with hearing impairment (du Feu & Fergusson, 2003). Presumably, incidence of mental health problems among hearing impaired children of parents who learnt to communicate adequately with them from infancy was very similar compared to normally hearing children (Gentili & Holwell, 2011;Vaccari & Marschark, 1997).…”

Children with congenital hearing loss – a vulnerable group

“…Døve barn av døve foreldre har i større grad genetisk ikke-syndromalt hørselstap. Disse har dermed mindre risiko for nevroutviklingsvansker enn barn av hørende foreldre (20).…”