The Hearing Outcomes Project

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The Hearing Outcomes Project Social and
emotional outcomes
Jim Stevenson Developmental Brain-Behaviour
Unit School of Psychology University of
Southampton
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Children with hearing impairment frequently show
social and emotional problems (Vostanis et al.,
1997) In terms of the type of behavioural
difficulty associated with hearing impairment,
difficulties related to attention have been
specifically noted. The effect of hearing
impairment on behaviour is less marked for
children with better communication skills.
These results parallel those from hearing
children. There are well replicated findings
that, for a range of language related skills,
poor language development is linked with
increased behaviour problems (Stevenson, 1996)
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Do children with hearing loss in the Hearing
Outcomes Project show social and emotional
problems compared to hearing children?
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Hearing Outcomes Project
Behaviour Behaviour problems were measured
using the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ)(Goodman, 1997) separately
rated by Parents and by Teachers. Every day
behaviour measured by the Vineland Adaptive
Behaviour Scales based on parental interview
Daily Living Skills Socialisation
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Behaviour in hearing impaired and hearing
children
Behaviour aggregate of Teacher and Parent SDQ
Stevenson et al. (in press) J Child Psychol
Psychiat DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02124.x
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Behaviour in hearing impaired and hearing
children
Behaviour aggregate of Teacher and Parent SDQ
Stevenson et al. (in press) J Child Psychol
Psychiat DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02124.x
7
Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Do children with hearing loss in the Hearing
Outcomes Project show social and emotional
problems compared to hearing children?
yes
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Are social and emotional problems in children
with hearing loss related to their language
development?
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Language in hearing impaired and hearing
children
Aggregate of Language Scores
Stevenson et al. (in press) J Child Psychol
Psychiat DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02124.x
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Language and behaviour in hearing impaired and
hearing children
Behaviour aggregate of Teacher and Parent SDQ
both ns
(bottom quartile)
Stevenson et al. (in press) J Child Psychol
Psychiat DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02124.x
11
Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Are social and emotional problems in children
with hearing loss related to their language
development?
yes
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Language and behaviour in hearing impaired and
normal hearing children
Conclusions Increased behaviour problems found in
children with hearing impairment are mediated by
speech and language abilities and, just as with
normally hearing children, such behaviour
problems are greatest amongst those hearing
impaired children with the least well developed
communication capabilities.
therefore if early aiding of hearing enhances
language would also expect a beneficial effect on
behaviour
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Does early confirmation of hearing loss results
in improved language development?
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Early confirmation and language in hearing
impaired children


plt.05
Kennedy et al (2006) NEJM 354 2131-2141.
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Does early confirmation of hearing loss results
in improved language development?
yes
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Effect of hearing impairment on behaviour is less
marked for children with better communication
skills. AND Early confirmation of hearing loss
results in improved language development THEREFOR
E Perhaps early confirmation results in better
social and emotional adjustment.
What do the findings from the Hearing Outcomes
Project suggest?
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Behaviour in hearing impaired children by age of
confirmation
SDQ
Total aggregate
Hearing Early Late
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Effect of hearing impairment on behaviour is less
marked for children with better communication
skills. AND Early confirmation of hearing loss
results in improved language development CONSEQUE
NTLY Early confirmation results in better social
and emotional adjustment.
?
?
?
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Early confirmation and language in hearing
impaired children
Hearing children's language level


plt.05
Kennedy et al (2006) NEJM 354 2131-2141.
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Social and emotional development in children
with hearing loss
Conclusions Early confirmation has a beneficial
effect on language development and this effect
is large enough to produce a significant impact
in reducing social and emotional problems in
children with PCHI so in the same way early
confirmation improves but does not eradicate
language deficits, it improves but does not
eradicate social and emotional problems
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For further details please email jsteven_at_soton.ac
.uk
Jim Stevenson Developmental Brain-Behaviour
Unit School of Psychology University of
Southampton