title: Emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents with hearing impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The aim of this study is to estimate the extent to which children and adolescents with hearing impairment (HI) show higher rates of emotional and behavioural difficulties compared to normally hearing children. Studies of emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents were traced from computerized systematic searches supplemented, where appropriate, by studies referenced in previous narrative reviews. Effect sizes (Hedges' g) were calculated for all studies. Meta-analyses were conducted on the weighted effect sizes obtained for studies adopting the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and on the unweighted effect sizes for non-SDQ studies. 33 non-SDQ studies were identified in which emotional and behavioural difficulties in children with HI could be compared to normally hearing children. The unweighted average g for these studies was 0.36. The meta-analysis of the 12 SDQ studies gave estimated effect sizes of 0.23 (95% CI 0.07, 0.40), 0.34 (95% CI 0.19, 0.49) and -0.01 (95% CI -0.32, 0.13) for Parent, Teacher and Self-ratings of Total Difficulties, respectively. The SDQ sub-scale showing consistent differences across raters between groups with HI and those with normal hearing was Peer Problems. Children and adolescents with HI have scores on emotional and behavioural difficulties measures about a quarter to a third of a standard deviation higher than hearing children. Children and adolescents with HI are in need of support to help their social relationships particularly with their peers.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK, jsteven@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreppner
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pimperton
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Worsfold
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology*; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires