The implications of early detection and pre-school habilitation of the hearing-impaired child. With special reference to the Provincial Paedo-audiological Centre, Tygerberg Hospital.
The basic handicap of deafness, viz. the lack lf natural communication skills, can be overcome by early detection of the defect and pre-school habilitation. In congenital deafness this dramatically improves the outlook for these children as regards the acquisition of normal speech, education in normal schools and emotional, social and economic integration into society. Planning for this is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Welfare and the provincial hospital administration.
D001298:Audiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010287:Parent-Child Relations