Children enrolled before they are six months old in a home-based program that teaches language skills to the deaf or hard of hearing not only achieve language skills but also maintain them over time.
The study underscores the importance of appropriate follow-up of newborn hearing screens that determine whether a more detailed evaluation of a baby's hearing by an audiologist is needed, according to Jareen Meinzen-Derr, PhD, a researcher at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the study's main author.
Better Language Skills at School Demonstrated by Kids Whose Parents Read Aloud
Kids, whose parents read aloud to them are likely to develop better language and literacy skills when they go to school, says a new study.
Kids, whose parents read aloud to them are likely to develop better language and literacy skills when they go to school, says a new study.
The researchers studied 328 children enrolled in Ohio's universal newborn hearing screening program. As is the case in many states, all infants born in Ohio hospitals or birthing centers receive hearing screenings before discharge. These screenings determine whether a more detailed evaluation of a baby's hearing is needed.
Newborns enrolled before 6 months of age were more likely to have age appropriate language skills than children enrolled at or after 6 months, the study found. They also maintained age appropriate skills through the age of 3, the age at which early intervention services cease. Children enrolled at or after six months had lower baseline language skills but made significant language progress, possibly catching up to the group enrolled at an earlier age, irrespective of severity of hearing loss, according to Dr. Meinzen-Derr. The researchers did not study children past the age of three to determine the level of their language skills.
Language Skills in Children Develop by Age 6
Children as young as six are as proficient at identifying possible verbs and their past tenses as adults, a new study has found.
Children as young as six are as proficient at identifying possible verbs and their past tenses as adults, a new study has found.
"Early intervention can and does have a great impact. We need to preserve early intervention services during these difficult economic times."
Advertisement
Language Skills in Autistic Children Surprise Scientists
Researchers have made some surprising discoveries about the communicative language abilities of people with autism.
Researchers have made some surprising discoveries about the communicative language abilities of people with autism.
The PAS meeting, sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research and the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, is the largest international meeting to focus on research in child health.
Advertisement
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of America's top three children's hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children's hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children's is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.
For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children's is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes. Additional information can be found at "http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org".
Source-Newswise
ARU
