Predicting 3-year outcomes of early-identified children with hearing impairment
T Y C Ching1, J Day2, M Seeto2
1National Acoustic Laboratories, Level 4, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Teresa.Ching@nal.gov.au
Insights
Early language performance in children with hearing loss predicts later development. Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) enables early detection and intervention, improving long-term outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Speech-language pathology
Background:
- Permanent childhood hearing loss significantly impacts child development.
- Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) aims for early identification.
- Evidence on UNHS efficacy and long-term outcomes was previously limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive value of early performance on language development at age 3.
- To compare outcomes between early- and late-identified children with hearing impairment.
- To inform strategies for improving outcomes in children with hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, population-based study (Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment - LOCHI).
- Outcomes assessed at 6, 12 months post-amplification, and at 3 and 5 years.
- Measures included directly-assessed language, vocabulary, speech production, and parent-reported functional performance.
Main Results:
- Early language scores and functional performance significantly predicted 3-year outcomes.
- Additional disabilities, hearing loss severity, and age at cochlear implant activation were also significant predictors.
- 3-year outcome scores were available for 356 of 450 participants.
Conclusions:
- Early language ability and functional performance are key predictors of 3-year outcomes.
- Early detection via UNHS facilitates earlier implantation and intervention.
- Monitoring post-amplification performance allows for timely implementation of preventive strategies.
Unlabelled:
PROBLEM/OBJECTIVES: Permanent childhood hearing loss has major negative impacts on children's health and development. To improve outcomes, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has been implemented widely. However, high-quality evidence on its efficacy was lacking. To address this evidence gap, we conducted the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study to directly compare outcomes of early- and late-identified children. This paper investigates whether early performance measured shortly after initial amplification predicts language development at 3 years of age.
Methodology:
This is a prospective, population-based study. We assessed outcomes at 6- and 12-months after amplification, and then at 3 and 5 years of age. Main outcome measures included directly-assessed language, receptive vocabulary, speech production; and parent-reported functional performance in everyday life. A range of demographic and audiological information was also collected at evaluation intervals.
Results:
About 450 children participated, and 3-year outcomes scores were available for 356 participants. Multiple regression analysis revealed that early language scores or functional performance ratings were significant predictors of 3-year outcomes. Other significant predictors included the presence or absence of additional disabilities, severity of hearing loss, and age at cochlear implant activation.
Conclusions:
Early performance, either directly-assessed language ability (PLS-4) or parent-reported functional ratings (PEACH), were significant predictors of 3-year outcomes; along with presence or absence of additional disabilities, severity of hearing loss, and age at CI activation. Earlier implantation is possible with early detection of hearing loss via UNHS. Monitoring performance after initial amplification allows preventive strategies to be implemented early to improve outcomes.
