title: A randomized controlled comparison of NAL and DSL prescriptions for young children: hearing-aid characteristics and performance outcomes at three years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of choice of prescription and other child-, family- and intervention-related factors on speech, language, and functional performance of hearing-impaired children by three years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled design was implemented as part of a population-based, longitudinal study on outcomes of children with hearing impairment (LOCHI) in Australia. Two hundred and eighteen children were randomly assigned to either the NAL or the DSL prescription for first fitting of hearing aids. Their performance outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prescriptive targets were closely matched in children's hearing aids. There were no significant differences in children's language, speech production, or functional performance between prescriptions. Parents' ratings of children's device usage and loudness discomfort were not significantly different between prescription groups. Functional performance within the first year of fitting together with degree of hearing loss, presence of additional disabilities, and maternal education explained 44% of variation in language ability of children by three years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant association between choice of hearing-aid prescription and variance in children's outcomes at three years of age. In contrast, additional disability, maternal educational level, and early functional performance were significant predictive factors of children's outcomes.
authors.affiliation: * National Acoustic Laboratories , Chatswood, New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa Y C
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marnane
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Buynder
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000592:standards*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D055656:Prescriptions; D013060:Speech; D016896:Treatment Outcome