Implications of audiologic success.
In the last few years, a clinical consensus has emerged regarding the necessary components of an early management program for hearing-impaired children. Early detection of hearing loss, a parent-infant and supervised nursery program, and optimal amplification provisions are among these components. This paper explores the possible implications for those profoundly hearing-impaired children whose auditory skills become sufficiently developed, as a result of an intensive auditory management program, to permit them to function in a primarily auditory (or auditory/visual) mode under most circumstances. The additional social/vocational/cultural opportunities afforded by a successful auditory habilitation program can require painful choices by many such children. Pursuant to fulfilling their clinical responsibilities regarding amplification, audiologists contribute to this situation.
Ross
M
M
Research and Training, New York League for the Hard of Hearing, New York 10010.
D001298:Audiology; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans