Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Hearing loss in childhood is associated with significant challenges in linguistic and cognitive development, particularly affecting language skills such as syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, which are essential for effective communication and social integrat...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Audiology Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/14/6/84 |
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| author | Nadia Porcar-Gozalbo Miguel López-Zamora Beatriz Valles-González Alejandro Cano-Villagrasa |
| author_facet | Nadia Porcar-Gozalbo Miguel López-Zamora Beatriz Valles-González Alejandro Cano-Villagrasa |
| author_sort | Nadia Porcar-Gozalbo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Hearing loss in childhood is associated with significant challenges in linguistic and cognitive development, particularly affecting language skills such as syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, which are essential for effective communication and social integration. This study aimed to analyze how different types and degrees of hearing loss impact linguistic development in children, and to identify clinical factors—such as age at diagnosis and years of language intervention—that may predict language performance. <b>Methods:</b> This study included a sample of 140 children aged 6 to 12, categorized into seven groups based on their hearing condition: unilateral and bilateral conductive, unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral and bilateral mixed hearing loss, and a control group with no hearing loss. Linguistic development was assessed using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 (CELF-5), a validated tool for diagnosing language disorders. Statistical analyses, including MANOVA and multiple regression, were conducted to evaluate differences in linguistic skills across groups and to determine the predictive value of clinical variables on total language performance. <b>Results:</b> The analysis revealed statistically significant differences across groups in all assessed linguistic domains (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with children with severe or bilateral hearing loss exhibiting notably lower scores compared to normohearing peers. The multiple regression analysis indicated that type of hearing loss was the strongest predictor of total linguistic performance (β = −0.674), followed by age at diagnosis (β = −0.285) and age of hearing device adaptation (β = −0.220). Years of language intervention also contributed significantly (β = 0.198) but to a lesser extent. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights the critical impact of early and comprehensive auditory and language intervention on linguistic outcomes for children with hearing impairments. Early diagnosis and timely adaptation of hearing aids or cochlear implants are essential in mitigating language deficits, particularly in areas like syntax and pragmatic skills. These findings support the need for specialized, long-term interventions tailored to the severity and type of hearing loss to improve language development in this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8b85124fa2442cdb69ab40b2bc06117 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2039-4349 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Audiology Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8b85124fa2442cdb69ab40b2bc061172025-08-20T02:53:34ZengMDPI AGAudiology Research2039-43492024-11-011461014102710.3390/audiolres14060084Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional StudyNadia Porcar-Gozalbo0Miguel López-Zamora1Beatriz Valles-González2Alejandro Cano-Villagrasa3Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University (VIU), 46002 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University (VIU), 46002 Valencia, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University (VIU), 46002 Valencia, Spain<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Hearing loss in childhood is associated with significant challenges in linguistic and cognitive development, particularly affecting language skills such as syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, which are essential for effective communication and social integration. This study aimed to analyze how different types and degrees of hearing loss impact linguistic development in children, and to identify clinical factors—such as age at diagnosis and years of language intervention—that may predict language performance. <b>Methods:</b> This study included a sample of 140 children aged 6 to 12, categorized into seven groups based on their hearing condition: unilateral and bilateral conductive, unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral and bilateral mixed hearing loss, and a control group with no hearing loss. Linguistic development was assessed using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 (CELF-5), a validated tool for diagnosing language disorders. Statistical analyses, including MANOVA and multiple regression, were conducted to evaluate differences in linguistic skills across groups and to determine the predictive value of clinical variables on total language performance. <b>Results:</b> The analysis revealed statistically significant differences across groups in all assessed linguistic domains (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with children with severe or bilateral hearing loss exhibiting notably lower scores compared to normohearing peers. The multiple regression analysis indicated that type of hearing loss was the strongest predictor of total linguistic performance (β = −0.674), followed by age at diagnosis (β = −0.285) and age of hearing device adaptation (β = −0.220). Years of language intervention also contributed significantly (β = 0.198) but to a lesser extent. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights the critical impact of early and comprehensive auditory and language intervention on linguistic outcomes for children with hearing impairments. Early diagnosis and timely adaptation of hearing aids or cochlear implants are essential in mitigating language deficits, particularly in areas like syntax and pragmatic skills. These findings support the need for specialized, long-term interventions tailored to the severity and type of hearing loss to improve language development in this population.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/14/6/84childhood hearing losslanguage developmentlinguistic skillsearly interventioncochlear implants |
| spellingShingle | Nadia Porcar-Gozalbo Miguel López-Zamora Beatriz Valles-González Alejandro Cano-Villagrasa Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Audiology Research childhood hearing loss language development linguistic skills early intervention cochlear implants |
| title | Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | impact of hearing loss type on linguistic development in children a cross sectional study |
| topic | childhood hearing loss language development linguistic skills early intervention cochlear implants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/14/6/84 |
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