Language Development for the New Generation of Children with Hearing Impairment
Lone Percy-Smith1,2, Signe Wischmann2, Jane Lignel Josvassen2
1Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Center, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
A new generation of children with hearing impairment (HI) has emerged due to the introduction of universal neonatal hearing screening, medical-surgical/technical and educational advances.
Aim:
Investigation of long-term development of vocabulary and social well-being of children with HI, including children with HI and additional disability.
Method And Material:
The project design was prospective, longitudinal, and comparative. Level of receptive vocabulary was compared to children with normal hearing, type of hearing technology, gender, additional disability, diagnosis of HI, level of social well-being, and start age for use of hearing technology. A total of 231 children participated. Intervention included early start of hearing technology and three years of auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) at the preschool level, followed by 3 years of AV guidance at the school level.
Results:
Children with HI scored within the norm for receptive vocabulary but were outperformed by the control group. Children with HI and a diagnosed additional disability scored lower than children without additional disability, in terms of parental assessments of social well-being. Children with additional disabilities showed positive progression in terms of receptive vocabulary development.
Conclusions:
New generations with HI possess the potential to succeed academically in accordance with individual abilities and become active participants in the working market.
Related Concept Videos
Language Development
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Language and Cognition
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Hearing
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Components of Language


