Chapter One

A. Davis, K. Davis and G. Mencher

INTRODUCTION

Hearing impairment is the most frequent sensory impairment in humans, with significant social and psychological implications. The effect of the impairment will vary from individual to individual due to factors such as severity, age of onset, treatment / management options and the hearing status of their parents. It is likely that the greatest impact of hearing impairment upon a child is on the acquisition of language and development of communication, which in turn can lead to poor literacy skills and altered long-term employment opportunities. It is likely that other areas of development will also be affected, for example, mental health, with one study finding 50% of a sample of hearing-impaired 11- to 16-year-olds met diagnostic criteria for a mental illness.

Despite these difficulties, it is possible that, given adequate support, their impact may be reduced. For example, language development may be enhanced through the use of language support programmes, and residual hearing may be used effectively through adequate amplification from hearing aids or cochlear implants. It has long been suspected that earlier diagnosis leads to better adjustment, and evidence increasingly shows that a support programme starting in the first few months of life, used in tandem with early identification procedures, is beneficial for hearing-impaired children and their families (see Davis et al. for an overview or Barton et al. for an example). Support may be available through educational services, audiology services, social services