Early Intervention is critical...
When properly fitted with hearing aids and provided with Appropriate rehabilitation and therapy, research show that children can use Their residual hearing and therefore develop speech and language skills equivalent to their hearing peers(Yoshinago-ltano.et.al1998)On the other hand ,unmanaged hearing loss in children can affect their speech and language development, as well as their biosocial interaction and emotional development.
Time is of the essence in treating hearing loss, because a child’s Brain is programme to learn speech and language during the first two years of life After this period It is very difficult for a child to develop speech and language skills that are age appropriate with those of normal hearing peers.
All children with hearing loss, mild to profound, need appropriate hearing Technology to learn grade appropriate language .Any degree of hearing loss in a child can be devastating .both educationally and emotionally. As recent studies shows a child with a mild to moderate hearing loss ,if left untreated has a higher likelihood of repeating a grade than a child with normal hearing .Indeed 37% of children with only mild hearing losses fail at least one grade (Bess et .al 1998 ).
Early identification and treatment of hearing loss can significantly reduce the need For more intensive intervention in the child‘s future. A leading researcher from the University of Colorado, Dr Christine Yoshinaga-ltano, has shown in a study of 150 children who were identified with a hearing loss and treated with in six mouths of age (cited above), that these children had significantly higher language levels than those received Intervention later in their development. The study also shown that appropriate early intervention minimizes the need for rehabilitation and special services during the child school years.
Another leading study conducted by John Hopkins University indicates that a potential cost savings of up £165, 000, per child may result if a child receives appropriate intervention within the first years of life .The cost savings are a result of higher rates of mainstream placement in regular school and lower dependence on special education support services also suggests long –term social benefits as child’s educational independence in life (Francis, koch, Wyatt, &Niparko, 1998)
Any degree of hearing loss can be educationally detrimental for children. Even children with mild to moderate hearing losses can miss up to 50% of classroom discussions. Unmanaged hearing loss in children can affect their speech and language development, academic capabilities educational development, and self –image and biosocial /emotional development.
Children with hearing loss who are identified in first mouths of life and receive appropriate intervention before age 6 mouths can develop language comparable to their hearing peers.
In addition to the potential negative education, social –emotional and behavioural outcomes research indicates that children with unmanaged hearing loss are also at a higher risk for certain negative health outcome , such as depression alcoholism and addiction.