Discovering Predictors to Successful Outcomes for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children

Early identification and intervention can lead to positive outcomes in age-appropriate language skills for deaf and hard of hearing children.

What was this report about?

This report presents the research findings from a series of studies of the language, speech and social-emotional development of deaf and hard of hearing children with hearing parents. It’s a summary of a presentation given at the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.

The study participants were enrolled the Colorado Home Intervention Program, which saw its average age for starting intervention drop from 20 months to 2 months with the introduction of universal newborn hearing screening programs in Colorado in the United States.

What were the key findings?

• Early identification of deafness and earlier intervention have resulted in better language development for deaf and hard of hearing children.
• Speech and social-emotional development are closely tied to language development.
• With earlier identification and intervention, many more children developed and maintained age-appropriate language skills, both orally and in sign language.

Where can I read more?