The Influence of Hearing Aid Use on Outcomes of Children With Mild Hearing Loss

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effects of consistent hearing aid (HA) use on outcomes in children with mild hearing loss (HL). Method: Five-or 7-year-old children with mild HL were separated into 3 groups on the basis of patterns of daily HA use. Using analyses of variance, we compared outcomes between groups on speech and language tests and a speech perception in noise task. Regression models were used to investigate the influence of cumulative auditory experience (audibility, early intervention, HA use) on outcomes. Results: Full-time HA users demonstrated significantly higher scores on vocabulary and grammar measures compared with nonusers. There were no significant differences between the 3 groups on articulation or speech perception measures. After controlling for the variance in age at confirmation of HL, level of audibility, and enrollment in early intervention, only amount of daily HA use was a significant predictor of grammar and vocabulary. Conclusions: The current results provide evidence that children's language development benefits from consistent HA use. Nonusers are at risk in areas such as vocabulary and grammar compared with other children with mild HL who wear HAs regularly. Service providers should work collaboratively to encourage consistent HA use.

Service Delivery to Children With Mild Hearing Loss: Current Practice Patterns and Parent Perceptions

“…Recent evidence from the Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss (OCHL) study suggest that consistent HA use may reduce the risk of negative outcomes in children with mild HL (Walker, Holte, et al, 2015). Walker, Holte, et al found a positive association between amount of daily HA use and language outcomes.…”

“…Although the vast majority of infants are being screened for HL, an often stated concern is that children with mild HL are more likely to be underidentified or later identified compared with children with moderate-to-profound HL (Johnson et al, 2005;Ross et al, 2008). Late identification leads to later intervention (or no intervention at all), which puts children with mild HL at risk for academic, language, and social delays (Bess, Dodd-Murphy, & Parker, 1998;Blair et al, 1985;Most, 2004;Walker, Holte, et al, 2015;Yoshinaga-Itano et al, 2008).…”

“…The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) recommends the "1-3-6" benchmarks: hearing screening by 1 month of age, confirmation of HL by 3 months of age, hearing aid (HA) fitting within 1 month of confirmation of HL, and entry into early intervention by 6 months of age (JCIH, 2007). The JCIH recommendations for early identification and intervention apply to children with any degree of HL, including children with mild HL; however, previous research has indicated that there is ambiguity among clinicians and parents regarding the appropriate recommendations for intervention for children with mild HL (Fitzpatrick et al, 2016;Walker, Holte, et al, 2015). The primary purpose of the current study is to examine identification of HL and timing of follow-up services for children with mild HL, which serves to expand the evidence base on practice patterns and management options for this group of children.…”

Moderate-Severe Hearing Loss in Children: A Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Challenge

“…Since (i) the earliest diagnosis of hearing disorders, and (ii) the availability innovative technologies (particularly in terms of advanced hearing aids solutions), a progressive improvement of the rehabilitative results achieved in children affected by moderate-severe hearing loss has been observed in the last years [37] . Hearing aids in infancy have been recommended in case of bilateral SNHL, and in case of persistent conductive or mixed hearing loss [1,96,100,101] . Increasing evidences suggest a benefit of hearing aids use also in children with unilateral SNHL [102,103] and in some cases of auditory neuropathy [104] .…”

“…If an adequate auditory stimulation is restored (i.e., by hearing aids, to rehabilitate a moderate-severe hearing loss), a reactivation of the neural synaptic connections may be possible, ensuring a regular auditory pathway development [93] . Hence, the early identification of hearing impairment in children and in particular within the first 3 months of life, is really important in order to set the proper and earliest therapeutical-rehabilitative plan [1,96,97] . If hearing loss is not recognized and corrected, it has been reported that scholastic learning and social activities may also be compromised, as well as emotional and psychological development [1,98] .…”