Journal article
Language and Reading Outcomes in Fourth-Grade Children With Mild Hearing Loss Compared to Age-Matched Hearing Peers
Language, speech & hearing services in schools, Vol.51(1), pp.17-28
01/08/2020
DOI: 10.1044/2019_LSHSS-OCHL-19-0015
PMCID: PMC7251588
PMID: 31913806
Abstract
Purpose There is ambiguity in the clinical and research communities regarding whether children with mild bilateral hearing loss (MBHL) are at risk for delays. The goal of the current article is to expand the evidence base surrounding outcomes for the current generation of children with MBHL. Method Using independent-samples t tests, we compared children with MBHL to same-age peers with normal hearing (NH) on measures of vocabulary, morphological awareness, listening comprehension, and reading. We completed regression analyses to explore the foundational linguistic skills that influenced reading abilities in both groups. For the children with MBHL, we examined whether hearing aid (HA) dosage was associated with individual differences in language scores. Results Group comparisons indicated that children with NH significantly outperformed children with MBHL on tests of morphological awareness and listening comprehension. There were no differences in vocabulary size or reading achievement; however, children with MBHL displayed significant differences in the factors that accounted for variability in reading scores compared to children with NH. HA dosage was significantly associated with variation in listening comprehension scores, but not vocabulary, reading, or morphological awareness. Conclusions The current results provide evidence that children with MBHL are at risk for persistent language deficits by 4th grade, particularly in aspects of language that involve form. Reading skills in children with MBHL appear to be commensurate with same-age hearing peers. Consistent use of well-fit HAs supports listening comprehension, although the amount of benefit from HAs may be reduced for children with higher unaided hearing levels.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Language and Reading Outcomes in Fourth-Grade Children With Mild Hearing Loss Compared to Age-Matched Hearing Peers
- Creators
- Elizabeth A Walker - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityCaitlin Sapp - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityMargaret Dallapiazza - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityMeredith Spratford - Audibility, Perception, and Cognition Laboratory, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NERyan W McCreery - Audibility, Perception, and Cognition Laboratory, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NEJacob J Oleson - Department of Biostatistics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Language, speech & hearing services in schools, Vol.51(1), pp.17-28
- DOI
- 10.1044/2019_LSHSS-OCHL-19-0015
- PMID
- 31913806
- PMCID
- PMC7251588
- ISSN
- 0161-1461
- eISSN
- 1558-9129
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/08/2020
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Biostatistics; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984214672702771
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