title: Major findings of the LOCHI study on children at 3 years of age and implications for audiological management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the major findings of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based prospective cohort study; with randomized controlled trials of hearing aid prescription and non-linear frequency compression.
  
  
  METHODS
  451 children in New South Wales, Victoria and Southern Queensland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant predictors of language outcomes at 3 years of age included severity of hearing loss, gender, presence of additional disabilities, maternal education, and age at cochlear implantation. Although prescription did not have a significant effect on outcomes, its influence on loudness and hearing aid safety has implications for management. After controlling for a range of predictor variables, nonlinear frequency compression did not have a significant effect on outcomes. For the same hearing sensitivity, the presence of auditory neuropathy did not have a significant effect on outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings form the basis for evidence-based guidelines for management of children with hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: * National Acoustic Laboratories , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa Y C
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dillon
mesh_terms: D001298:Audiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055656:Prescriptions; D016896:Treatment Outcome