Parent’s satisfaction on tele-listening training for children with Hearing impairment during COVID-19

Background and Aim: Rehabilitation services to individuals with hearing impairment were on hold with widespread COVID-19. So, rehabili­tation services were mandated mainly through telepractice for children with hearing loss. Eva­luating the effectiveness of tele-practise compa­red to face-to-face therapy is of utmost impor­tance for evidence-based approaches. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the parent’s satisfaction with tele-listening training for child­ren with hearing impairment during COVID-19. Methods: Fifty-four parents of children with hearing loss participated in the study. The pare­nts satisfaction on tele-listening training was evaluated through the Parent Satisfaction Ques­tionnaire in terms of 1) the audio and video qua­lity during teletherapy; 2) equipment use 3) gen­eral parent-therapist interaction and communi­cation during teletherapy; 4) service delivery and convenience; and 5) overall satisfaction with the teletherapy. Results: The results showed a higher parent satisfaction rating to avail rehabilitation services through tele-modality during the pandemic. Tele-listening training sessions had helped par­ents continue training their children at home with the therapist's guidance online. However, parents were not satisfied with their child's interaction with the therapist as they found it difficult to maintain attention throughout the online session. Conclusion: Although most participants agreed that tele session could not replace face-to-face auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) programs, most of them were satisfied with the outreach AVT program. These favorable responses from pare­nts highlight that the digital revolution and other technological advancements support the service providers in Audiology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Tele-listening training; questionnaire; satisfaction; rehabilitation

Language Development for the New Generation of Children with Hearing Impairment

A new generation of children with hearing impairment (HI) has emerged due to the introduction of universal neonatal hearing screening, medical–surgical/technical and educational advances. Aim: Investigation of long-term development of vocabulary and social well-being of children with HI, including children with HI and additional disability. Method and Material: The project design was prospective, longitudinal, and comparative. Level of receptive vocabulary was compared to children with normal hearing, type of hearing technology, gender, additional disability, diagnosis of HI, level of social well-being, and start age for use of hearing technology. A total of 231 children participated. Intervention included early start of hearing technology and three years of auditory–verbal therapy (AVT) at the preschool level, followed by 3 years of AV guidance at the school level. Results: Children with HI scored within the norm for receptive vocabulary but were outperformed by the control group. Children with HI and a diagnosed additional disability scored lower than children without additional disability, in terms of parental assessments of social well-being. Children with additional disabilities showed positive progression in terms of receptive vocabulary development. Conclusions: New generations with HI possess the potential to succeed academically in accordance with individual abilities and become active participants in the working market.

How Effective Is Auditory–Verbal Therapy (AVT) for Building Language Development of Children with Cochlear Implants? A Systematic Review

This systematic review sheds light on the effectiveness of auditory–verbal therapy (AVT) outcomes in children with cochlear implants (CIs). The presented outcome is based on research findings from the last 10 years. The systematic review was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Critical Appraisal of Treatment Evidence (CATE) checklist. Specific keywords were chosen based on the research question and searched on the PubMed database. All searched papers were analysed based on specific exclusion criteria and classified into four evidence levels. The results revealed that children who participated in AV therapy can achieve linguistic skills at the same level as their hearing peers. Voice quality seemed positively affected, placing young children with CIs in the normal range for receptive vocabulary development. In contrast, reading skills seemed less benefited. AV therapy seems to contribute to integration into mainstream society. Despite the recorded speech and language improvements of young children with CIs, the aim of AV therapy is still not fulfilled. AV therapy can be seen as the best clinical practice for young children with CIs till now, but the lack of well-controlled studies is undermining.

Efficacy of Auditory Verbal Therapy on Listening and Linguistic Skills of a Child with Bimodal Hearing

Introduction This study aimed to document the effect of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) with proper assessment and management in early intervention of a child with bimodal hearing. Bimodal Hearing is the use of a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the opposite ear. Auditory Verbal Therapy is a highly specialist early intervention programme which equips parents with the skills to maximise their deaf child’s speech and language development. Case Report A male child aged 5 years 1 month had bilateral severe to profound hearing loss and speech-language problem. He was using cochlear implant in the right ear and BTE hearing aid in left ear (Bimodal hearing). Speech and language assessment revealed delayed semantic, syntax and pragmatic skills. Assessment of language development test showed poor receptive and expressive language score. The functional auditory performance indicator score indicated poor auditory function. Auditory verbal therapy hierarchy plan was used for treatment. Post 15 sessions after applying AVT the child’s listening and linguistic skills showed a great improvement. Discussion The scales used to measure the efficacy of AVT are found to be useful for the assessment and goal setting for intervention. Thus, appropriate quantification of various aspects of communication skills may describe its potential impact in this case under ADIP scheme.

in Late Diagnosed Congenital Hearing Loss with Delayed Speech: A Case Report

Introduction : Hearing impairment in children happened in 6 per 1000 newborn in developing country. The etiology of most of those case is unknown as stated by WHO that 60% of children hearing loss caused by genetics. Aim : This condition could lead to delayed speech in children. Method : A-6-years-old children referred to ENT department with delayed speech and bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss to get a choclear implant. Result : Her condition suspected to be caused by rubella infection during pregnancy. She was already using hearing aid occasionaly and her mother complain that she still couldn’t hear effectively. The comprehensive management of infant with congenital hearing loss could be diagnosed early by applying hearing screening on all newborns at 1 month of age based on EHDI recommendation. This case represents the society low awareness and diagnostic tools limitation of congenital hearing loss prevention in Indonesia. Therefore, we suggest newborn hearing screening on all high-risked babies based on the risk factor stratification. Habilitation strategy for this patient includes auditory-verbal therapy. In order to maximize the benefit, parents are required to give maximum contribution to each therapy session. The therapy compliance becomes the important parameter in outcome optimization. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to the management of congenital hearing loss. The EHDI programs provide recommended timeline for newborn hearing screenings, diagnostic examinations, and early interventions. The treatment consists of conventional hearing aid and cochlear implantation, combined with speech and language therapy in an appropriate educational environment, to promote development of communication and educational achievements

Auditory perception of Mexican children with profound bilateral hearing loss receiving auditory verbal therapy

Profound hearing loss can have serious and irreversible consequences for oral language development in children, affecting spoken and written language acquisition. Auditory-verbal therapy has been widely applied to children with hearing loss with promising results, mainly in developed countries where cochlear implants are available. An evaluation was done of auditory perception in 25 children 5 to 8 years of age, with profound hearing loss, users of 4- or 5-channel hearing aids, and enrolled in a personalized auditory-verbal therapy program. Regarding initial auditory perception skills, children performed better on the Noises and Sounds block than on the Language block. By subscales, top performance was observed for auditory analysis (Noises and Sounds) and auditory recognition (Language). A series of t-tests showed that significant improvement after Auditory-verbal therapy occurred in global scores for Noises and Sounds and for Language blocks, regardless of sex, urban or rural community origin, nuclear or extended family. The study provides evidence of deficiencies in auditory in children with profound bilateral hearing loss and how this might improve after receiving Auditory-verbal therapy. Nevertheless, the descriptive study design prevents conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the therapy. Subsequent research must take into account intrinsic and environmental factors that might play a mediating role in the benefits of Auditory-verbal therapy for auditory perception.

Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Parents’ Perspective

Aim and Objectives: The current study was undertaken to assess the effect of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cochlear implant rehabilitation of children with congenital non syndromic bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The objectives were to find out the psychological impact of COVID-19 on parents of children with cochlear implant habilitation, to assess the performance of children with cochlear implant habilitation through tele therapy and to analyze the problems faced by the parents to obtain the professional hearing health care services for their cochlear implanted children.Material and Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted amongst the parents of children who had undergone cochlear implantation (CI) consequent to congenital severe to profound SNHL. Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, these children received regular auditory verbal therapy (AVT) including visits to the Centre for audiological services (mapping and troubleshooting of the speech processor).Results: The online questionnaire survey, undertaken by a total of fifty (50) parents was analyzed. All the parents unanimously reported that COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected access to the professional health care services for regular mapping and troubleshooting of the speech processor and thus their children’s rehabilitation. However, active involvement between the professional health care services and the parents through video consultation and tele auditory verbal therapy has definitely helped the children to a great extent.Conclusion: The present study emphasises the great challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for continued rehabilitation of CI children. To overcome this situation, an innovative digital media to address such medical issues through tele medicine, tele audiology and tele therapy is warranted.