Longitudinal study of children with unilateral hearing loss

Abstract

Objective Children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) have been found to have lower language scores, and increased rate of speech therapy, grade failures, or needing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). The objective of this study was to determine whether language skills and educational performance improved or worsened over time in a cohort of children with UHL. Study Design Prospective longitudinal cohort study Methods Forty-six children with permanent UHL, ages 6 to 12 years, were studied using standardized cognitive, achievement, and language testing at yearly intervals for three years. Using standardized test scores allowed implicit comparison to norms established by national cross-sectional samples. Secondary outcomes included behavioral issues, IEPs, receipt of speech therapy, or teacher report of problems at school. Analysis utilized repeated measures ANOVA and multilevel random regression modeling. Results Several cognitive and language mean standardized scores increased over time. Possible predictors of increase with time included higher baseline cognitive levels and receipt of interventions through an IEP. However, standardized achievement scores and indicators of school performance did not show concomitant improvements. Rates of IEPs remained > 50% throughout, and rates of speech therapy were consistently about 20%. Conclusions Children with UHL demonstrated improvement in oral language and verbal IQ scores over time, but not improvements in school performance. Parents and teachers reported persistent behavioral problems and academic weaknesses or areas of concern in about 25%. The provision of IEPs for children with UHL, and acknowledging UHL as a hearing disability, may be an effective intervention to improve language skills over time.

Sickle Cell Trait, Malaria and Sensorineural Hearing Loss–A Case-Control Study from São Tomé and Príncipe

“…The unilateral and bilateral SNHL, accounting for 43% of the total sample, were included in the case study group since the unilateral SNHL also contribute to worse language acquisition and decreased school performance [20].…”

Cochlear Implants in Single-Sided Deafness

“…CI implanted ear, contralateral ear is the normal hearing ear. Summarized from content in [11 •• ] weakness in 25 % compared with bilaterally-hearing peers [44]. Children with post-lingually acquired SSD who were implanted with a CI performed objectively better with speech in noise and localization, and subjectively better in their perceived hearing ability or patient satisfaction [2 •• , 36].…”

An approach to unilateral hearing loss

“…Bu nedenle çocukluk döneminde dil kazanımında gerilik, okulda düşük başarı seviyesi, davranış bozuklukları, konuşmalarda beklenen karşılığın verilememesi ve sıklıkla hayal kırıklığı gibi sorunlar yaşanırken; erişkin dönemde özellikle gürültülü ortamlarda ya da ses kayna-ğı ile dinleyici arasında uzak mesafe olduğunda dinleme güçlüğü, hayal kırıklığı, rahatsızlık, iletişim zorluğu gibi sorunlar yaşanabilmektedir. [6,7] Bu zorluklar özellikle sonradan ani olarak tek taraflı işitme kaybı olanlar ile tek taraflı işitme kaybının yanı sıra çınlaması olan hastalarda daha belirgindir, ileri yaş ve erkek cinsiyette daha fazla soruna neden olmaktadır. Doğuştan ya da erken dönem-de tek taraflı işitme kaybı gelişen bireyler en az zorluk yaşayan gruptur ve muhtemelen bu kişiler geliştirdikleri kompanzasyon mekanizmaları ile sorunun üstesinden daha kolay gelebilmektedir.…”

“…[22] Bu çocukların yaklaşık %50'sinde okulun ilk yıllarında özelleştirilmiş eğitim programı öneril-mektedir. [7] Az bir kısmı ise konuşma terapisine ihtiyaç duymaktadır.…”