Functional performance in profound hearing-impaired children

Abstract

Background and Objective: The impacts of profound hearing loss during childhood on speech, language, and emotional development have been extensively investigated. However, little evidence exists on the adverse effects of the dysfunction on the functional abilities of the patients. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the functional performance skills between children with profound hearing impairment and their counterparts.Methods: This was a randomized control trial conducted on children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing impairment (n = 50) as treatment group and age-matched counterparts (n = 50) with normal hearing sensitivity as control group. Functional performance was measured using pediatric evaluation of disability inventory assessing the three functional domains of self-care, mobility, and social function. Results: The “social functioning†performance of the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.0001). No significant differences in the “self-care†and “mobility†domains were observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Normal hearing children have better functional social functioning activities than hearing-impaired children. These results could help design strategic interdisciplinary programs with a focus on improvement of social skills to prevent further communication and behavioral problems and to facilitate their performances at home or community.