Written by Hannah Harp
Spoon Feed
A targeted training course for parents of deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) toddlers was effective for improving communication scores for the toddler, especially in families where children are exposed to both spoken language and sign.
Sound is optional, but language is essential
In order to prevent delayed language acquisition in DHH children, intervention needs to start as early as possible. The universal hearing screen and development of hearing technology like cochlear implants have vastly improved language outcomes for DHH kids, but missed targeted language therapies in early childhood still leaves DHH children with worse long-term language outcomes. All DHH babies are recommended to be enrolled in Early Intervention by age 6 months, but a paucity of these services frequently delay treatment. Could a targeted training course for parents of DHH children improve language learning in the home as much or even more than usual community services?
This single-site randomized clinical trial assessed the efficacy of a parent-mediated intervention (PMI) on communication outcomes in 96 DHH toddlers. Participants were randomized by hearing device and communication mode. After six months of weekly telehealth sessions, the PMI group showed significantly improved parent strategy use (Cohen’s d = 1.57) and child communication (Cohen’s d = 0.59). Communication mode moderated outcomes: children exposed to signs had greater gains in CSBS scores (B = 18.93, SE = 8.09, P = .02). The study population was largely highly educated, higher socioeconomic status, and white. Once a week for six months is a lot, especially if you are working more than one job or needing an interpreter for training.
How does this change my practice?
The outcomes in the study are exciting, especially when I think about my DHH patients who had missed diagnoses or spotty therapy and now are struggling academically. Now the hard part… who is going to provide these services, and how accessible will they be?
Source
Early Communication Intervention for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Toddlers: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pediatrics. 2025 Jun 1;155(6):e2024066847. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-066847. PMID: 40419285
