title: Effectiveness of domain-based intervention for language development in Japanese hearing-impaired children: a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Decreasing language delay in hearing-impaired children is a key issue in the maintenance of their quality of life. Language training has been presented mainly by experience-based training; effective intervention programs are crucially important for their future. The aim of this study was to confirm the efficacy of 6-month domain-based language training of school-age, severe-to-profound hearing-impaired children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a controlled before-after study involving 728 severe-to-profound prelingual hearing-impaired children, including an intervention group (n = 60), control group (n = 30), and baseline study group (n = 638). Language scores of the participants and questionnaires to the caregivers/therapists were compared before and after the intervention. Average monthly increase in each language score of the control group and baseline study group were compared with those of the intervention group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Language scores and the results of the questionnaire of the intervention group showed a significant improvement (P < .05). The average monthly language growth of the intervention group was twice that of the control group and 3 to 4 times that of the baseline study group (P < .05). The effect size was largest in communication (1.914), followed by syntax (0.931).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Domain-based language training improved the language development and daily communication of hearing-impaired children without any adverse effects.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ojima
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murai
authors.forename: Yasoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007808:Language Therapy; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome