A longitudinal study of sensorineural hearing loss in school children

Aim: The aim of this work is to throw the lights on the utmost importance of early regular aural-language rehabilitation of hearing impaired children and its effects on changing life stream of the child. Material and Methods: Twenty hearing impaired children (10 males and 10 females) aged 5 years old, that were studying at a preschool level in a special deaf school (Al Amal), in the year 1990 were included. The degree of bilateral hearing loss was measured to be 70 - 75 dB average at frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. These children were fitted with binaural. Results: The study group that was enrolled in aural and language rehabilitation programs was able to join mainstream schools. Some of them are even going to complete their high education. Conclusion: Appropriate early hearing aid fitting, high levels of parental guidance and early language intervention seem to be basic principles that have the great role in helping hearing-impaired children to overcome their handicap