The relationship between language development and behaviour problems in children with hearing loss.
BACKGROUND
There are well-replicated findings that link poor development on a range of communication skills with increased behavioural problems. This paper examines this relationship in children with hearing loss.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty children with hearing loss (67 boys, 53 girls) and 63 hearing children (37 boys, 26 girls) with a mean age of 8 years from eight districts in Southern England were assessed for receptive and expressive language skills. The relationships between these measures and an aggregate of parent- and teacher-reported behaviour problems in the children were investigated.


RESULTS
Children with hearing loss had higher levels of behaviour problems compared to hearing children. Once the language abilities of children with hearing loss are taken into account, the negative effects of hearing loss on behaviour disappear.


CONCLUSIONS
Behaviour problems are found more commonly in children with hearing loss and the level of behaviour problems is highest amongst those children with hearing loss with the least developed language capabilities.
Stevenson
Jim
J
University of Southampton, UK. jsteven@soton.ac.uk
McCann
Donna
D
Watkin
Peter
P
Worsfold
Sarah
S
Kennedy
Colin
C
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013070:Speech Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires