Rehabilitation of hearing-impaired children: intervention and outcome

A cohort of 72 hearing-impaired children of a median age of 9.7 years, range 4.3-13.9, born during 1980-1990 and living in the health district of Copenhagen City was examined cross-sectionally in order to evaluate the interval from identification to the initial fitting of hearing aids (HAs) and children's use of HAs. As measures of outcome, the use of HAs at 1, 6, 12 months after fitting, and at the time of data collection was assessed along with the primary language of each child. One month after the fitting, 53% of the total sample used the HAs > 8 h/day, and no significant longitudinal changes in the proportion of time-related use were found. 56% of the children stayed in the same user category during the years, while the rest either increased (25%) or decreased (19%) the use of amplification from 1 month after fitting to the time of data collection. Children with better ear hearing level (BEHL) 0.5-4 kHz between 60 and 89 dB used the HAs significantly more than those with mild or profound hearing impairments, whereas age at onset (congenital, acquired, age at onset unknown) and age at intervention were unrelated to use of amplification. 72% of the children were oral, while 25% were manual (unknown 3%), and no differences in the use of HAs were found between these two groups. A subdivision of congenitally hearing-impaired children according to BEHL 0.5-4 kHz below/above 75 dB demonstrated a significantly larger proportion of manual children in the poorer hearing group despite a significantly younger amplification age. It is concluded that age at intervention is unrelated to primary language, although the number of children precludes dependable conclusions.