title: [The development of auditory performance and speech intelligibility at the early stage after hearing aid fitting in children with moderate or severe hearing loss].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the development of auditory performance and speech intelligibility within the first year after hearing aid fitting in children with moderate or severe hearing loss, investigate the effects of hearing level on auditory performance and speech intelligibility and provide a clinical database for their hearing and speech habilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine children participated in this study, ranging in age at hearing aid fitting from 3 to 8 years old with a mean of 5. 6 years old. 19 were boys and 10 were girls. According to their hearing level, they were divided into two groups. 14 children were in group of moderate hearing loss (41-60 dB HL). 15 children were in group of severe hearing loss (61-80 dB HL). The categories of auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) were used to evaluate their auditory performance and speech intelligibility. The evaluation was performed before hearing aid fitting and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant difference in mean score of CAP between group of moderate hearing loss and severe hearing loss before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between these two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting (P > 0.05). There was also significant difference in mean score of SIR between group of moderate hearing loss and severe hearing loss before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05). How ever, no significant differences were also observed between these two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting (P > 0.05). The mean scores of CAP for group of moderate hearing loss at 6, 9, 12 months after fitting were significantly superior in comparison with the score before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05). The mean scores of SIR for group of moderate hearing loss at 6, 9, 12 months after fitting were significantly superior in comparison with the score before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05); the mean score at 12 months after fitting was also significantly superior in comparison with the score at 1 month after fitting (P < 0.05). The mean scores of CAP for group of severe hearing loss at 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting were significantly superior in comparison with the score before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05); the mean scores at 9,12 months after fitting were significantly superior in comparison with the score at 1 month after fitting (P < 0.05). The mean scores of SIR for group of severe hearing loss at 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting were significantly superior in comparison with the score before hearing aid fitting (P < 0.05); the mean scores at 6, 9, 12 months after fitting were also significantly superior in comparison with the score at 1 month after fitting (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Auditory performance and speech intelligibility in children with moderate or severe hearing loss improved significantly within the first year after hearing aid fitting. The development followed different trajectory.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013067:Speech Perception