2002 Annual Meeting on Successful Statewide
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs
- Roundtable Summaries -

Roundtable Topic: Early Intervention Services for Children with Mild or Unilateral Hearing Loss
Session: 2:45 PM
Moderator: Karen Clark

Summary

IDENTIFICATION OF MILD AND UNILATERAL LOSS

Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Year 2000 Position Statement recommends that infants with unilateral, minimal and/or fluctuating hearing losses should be identified to facilitate on-going audiologic, medical and developmental monitoring and treatment for progressive hearing loss or development of speech and/or language delay.


ISSUES RELATED TO MILD HEARING LOSS

Effect of mild hearing loss on language and learning

  • Variations in terms/levels related to slight/mild/moderate hearing loss
  • Implications of terms related to mild hearing loss
  • Changing the perceptions of "mild" loss.
  • Research available/needed

Intervention services/strategies for infants and toddlers with mild hearing loss

  • Audiological
    • Monitoring
    • Amplification: Hearing aids - FM systems
  • Habilitation
    • Service availability
    • Eligibility for Part C services
    • Eligibility for services beyond age 3

ISSUES RELATED TO UNILATERAL HEARING LOSS

Effect of unilateral hearing loss on language and learning

  • Research available/needed
  • Implications for service

Intervention services/strategies for infants and toddlers with unilateral hearing loss

  • Audiological
    • Monitoring
    • Amplification: Hearing aids - FM systems
  • Habilitation
    • Service availability
    • Follow-up/monitoring of language, development, education

SELECTED REFERENCES

1. Bess, F. H., Dodd-Murphy, J. & Parker, R. A. (1998). Children with minimal sensorineural hearing loss: Prevalence, education performance, and functional status. Ear and Hearing, 19 (5) 339-354.

2. English, K. & Church, G. (1999). Unilateral hearing loss in children: An update for the 90s. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in the Schools, 30, 26 - 31.

3. Haggard, R. S. (1999). Parental perceptions of hearing loss classifications in children. American Journal of Audiology, 8 (2) 83-92.

4. Moeller, M. P. (2000). Early intervention and language development in children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Pediatrics, 106 (3).

5. Stredler-Brown, M. A. & Arehart, K. H. (2000). Universal newborn hearing screening: Impact on early intervention services. Volta Review, 100 (5) 85-117.

6. Tharpe A. M. & Bess, F. H. (1999). Minimal, progressive, and fluctuating hearing losses in children: Characteristics, identification, and management. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 46 (1) 65-78.

7. Yoshinaga-Itano, C. Sedey, A. L., Coulter, D. K. & Mehl A. L. (1998). Language of early- and later-identified children with hearing loss. Pediatrics, 102 (5) 1161-71.