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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Impact of Language Underperformance on Communication and Social Functioning in Children Under 4 Years of Age Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing' Track: 3 - Language Acquisition and Development Keyword(s): social functioning, language development Learning Objectives: Describe the relationship between language development and social functioning in children who are deaf or hard of hearing Describe the importance of understanding language levels relative to cognitive abilities Abstract: Purpose: Social and communication skills are essential for developing independence. A discrepancy between language and cognitive ability, or language underperformance (LU) negatively impacts social functioning in older children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Little is known about younger children. We investigated the relationship between LU and functional skills in children <48 months who are DHH. Methods: Children with bilateral hearing loss, <3 years of age are being enrolled in a developmental study. Assessments include: the Mullen Scales of Early Learning or Leiter-R, Preschool Language Scales-5, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Language relative to cognitive abilities was defined as the ratio of receptive language score to nonverbal IQ (NVIQ). Children with language underperformance (ratio<80) were compared to children with commensurate language (ratio>80) regarding communication and social functioning scores using general linear models to control for confounding. Results: In 66 children, median age of identification 3 months, 30% have a cochlear implant, 32% have LU, 24% have NVIQ<80. Children with NVIQ>100 and LU had mean communication and social functioning standard scores significantly (p<0.01) lower than children with NVIQ>100 and commensurate language (78 vs 101 & 87 vs 103 respectively). Communication and social functioning was similar to children with NVIQ<80 with commensurate language (78 v 77, p=0.9 & 87 v 80, p=0.3 respectively). These relationships were not confounded by severity of hearing loss, child's age, age of identification. Conclusion: Language underperformance has a negative impact on social and communication skills in children who are DHH at very young ages and across all levels of ability. These deficits may have cascading effects on a range of developmental domains. Early recognition of slower language trajectories in young children who are DHH is critical and suggests a need for changes in current early intervention services. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
-             ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Jareen Meinzen-Derr - Primary Presenter,Author,POC Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: PhD, MPH       Dr. Meinzen-Derr is quantitative epidemiologist at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She has focused her research on outcomes of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and specifically those who have additional developmental disabilities.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Sandra Grether - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: PhD - Speech and Language Pathologist       Dr. Grether is a Speech and Language Pathologist who works with children with developmental disabilities. Her expertise is in the field of augmentative and alternative communication.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Rose McAuley - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: M.A. CCC-SLP       Rose McAuley is a speech-language pathologist who works with children who have developmental disabilities. She also has experience implementing augmentative and alternative communication into therapies for children of all levels of ability.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Laura Smith - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: MPH, Clinical Research Personnel       Laura is a clinical research coordinator at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She has been working with an MCHB funded research study evaluting the impact of cognition and language on functional outcomes in young children who are deaf/hard of hearing.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Julia Anixt - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: M.D.       Julia Anixt is a developmental pediatrician. Her current research is focused on decision making for families who have a child with autism spectrum disorders.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Susan Wiley - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Professor       Dr. Susan Wiley is a developmental pediatrician with expertise in children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She has many years of experience serving children with multiple disabilities.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -