Vocabulary Composition Shapes Language Development in Children With Cochlear Implants.

Although vocabulary size is thought to index children's language abilities, an increasing body of work suggests that regularities in children's vocabulary composition, particularly the proportion of shape-based nouns (e.g., cup), support language development.

Parent experiences with genetic testing for pediatric hearing loss.

The purpose of the current study was to assess parent perceptions and experiences of genetic testing, as well as barriers for not undergoing testing in a sample of families of children with hearing loss. A 44-item questionnaire, The Parent Perception of Genetic Testing Questionnaire developed by the research study team was administered. Participants were recruited from a pediatric otolaryngology/audiology practice and social media.

Mental Health, Parenting Stress, and Parenting Practices of Parents of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children During the Pandemic.

The authors investigated parent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with parenting behaviors of parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. An electronic survey was distributed to parents (N = 103). The results showed that they were experiencing elevated anxiety, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Costs of Severe to Profound Hearing Loss & Cost Savings of Cochlear Implants.

Objective: To estimate costs of severe to profound hearing loss, including costs and cost-savings associated with cochlear implantation.

Methods: Data was obtained from the National Health Interview Survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and national Medicare rates. We used continuous time state transition models with individual patient simulations to estimate the costs of severe to profound hearing loss (SPHL) across the lifespan.

Cochlear Implantation and Educational and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Adolescence.

Importance: Cochlear implants (CIs) have been shown to be effective in improving auditory skills and speech and language development. However, less is known about the long-term outcomes of CIs on educational functioning or quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate long-term educational outcomes and quality of life in adolescents over 13 years postimplantation.

Paediatric audiology measures for Spanish-speaking patients: current practice & state of knowledge.

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of audiologists' knowledge of Spanish speech perception materials for the paediatric hearing loss population.

Design: An electronic survey, the Knowledge of Spanish Audiology & Speech Tools (KSAST) was distributed via Qualtrics to audiologists who worked with Spanish-speaking children.

Study Sample: One hundred and fifty-three audiologists practicing in the United States completed the electronic survey over a period of six months.

Parents of children with hearing loss: Impact and exposure of COVID-19 on mental health.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact and exposure of COVID-19 on parent mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for parents of children with hearing loss.

Vocabulary Outcomes for 5-Year-Old Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Impact of Age at Enrollment in Specialized Early Intervention.

The aims of this study were to examine vocabulary scores of 5-year-old children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), as well as the impact of early enrollment in specialized intervention on vocabulary outcomes. Receptive and expressive vocabulary scores were analyzed for 342 five-year-old children who are DHH enrolled in specialized listening and spoken language intervention programs. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the effects of age at enrollment on vocabulary outcomes.

Development and Validation of a Parenting Stress Module for Parents of Children Using Cochlear Implants.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a cochlear implant (CI)-specific parenting stress measure using the FDA Guidance on Patient-Reported Outcomes (2009).

Methods: The development and psychometric validation of the Parenting Stress-CI module for both the Early Childhood (EC; 0-5 years) and School-Age (SA; 6-12 years) versions are reported in this article. Instrument development consisted of qualitative interviews with parents of children with CIs (EC: N = 19; SA: N = 21), content analysis, item development, and cognitive testing of the instrument.

Impact of Auditory-Oral Education on Device Use in Children With Hearing Loss.

Purpose: This study examined changes in datalogging for children attending an auditory-oral educational program with integrated audiology services versus children attending a mainstream or nonspecialized program.

Method: Eighty children participated in this study, half of which were enrolled in an auditory-oral educational program versus the nonspecialized or mainstream setting. Datalogging for cochlear implant and hearing aid users was obtained via retrospective medical and educational chart review from 2016 to 2019.

Parenting Stress, Self-Efficacy, and Involvement: Effects on Spoken Language Ability Three Years After Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: This study evaluated associations among parenting stress, self-efficacy, and involvement in relation to spoken language outcomes in young children 3 years following cochlear implantation.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Six university tertiary medical centers.

Peripheral vestibular system: Age-related vestibular loss and associated deficits.

Given the interdependence of multiple factors in age-related vestibular loss (e.g., balance, vision, cognition), it is important to examine the individual contributions of these factors with ARVL.

Quality of Life-CI: Development of an Early Childhood Parent-Proxy and Adolescent Version.

Objectives: Severe to profound hearing loss is associated with communication, social, and behavioral difficulties that have been linked to worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to individuals with normal hearing. HRQoL has been identified as an important health outcome that measures functional ability, particularly for chronic conditions and disabilities. The current study developed the QoL-cochlear implant (CI) for early childhood and adolescents using the recommended Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency guidelines on patient-reported outcomes.

Screening Strategies for Deafness Genes and Functional Outcomes in Cochlear Implant Patients.

Objectives: To review the current state of knowledge about the influence of specific genetic mutations that cause sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on cochlear implant (CI) functional outcomes, and how this knowledge may be integrated into clinical practice. A multistep and sequential population-based genetic algorithm suitable for the identification of congenital SNHL mutations before CI placement is also examined.

Data Sources, Study Selection: A review was performed of the English literature from 2000 to 2019 using PubMed regarding the influence of specific mutations on CI outcomes and the use of next-generation sequencing for genetic screening of CI patients.

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents With Hearing Loss.

Objective: To develop and implement a universal screening protocol for depression and anxiety in adolescents serviced in an otology and audiology practice and to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in adolescents with hearing loss, while also comparing rates by degree of hearing loss and type of hearing device used.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: University tertiary medical center.

The impact of COVID-19 on allied health professions.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) on allied health professionals work environment, access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing, and mental health. A 34-question survey was developed and distributed electronically to allied health professionals through listservs of professional organizations and social media groups. A total of 921 responses from allied health professionals in a variety of work settings were analyzed.

Comparisons of performance in pediatric bone conduction implant recipients using remote microphone technology.

Objectives: For children with hearing loss, remote microphone (RM) technology can significantly improve access to speech in environments with poor signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), such as classrooms. Yet, this has never been studied in bone conduction device (BCD) users, a common treatment for children with irresolvable conductive hearing loss resulting from anatomical malformations of the outer ear. The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of RM technology on speech perception in noise in pediatric BCD users with Microtia/Atresia.

Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Identifier of COVID-19 in Adults and Children: An International Multicenter Study.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Study Design: Multicenter case series.

Setting: Five tertiary care hospitals (3 in China, 1 in France, 1 in Germany).

Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction as An Early Identifier of COVID-19 in Adults and Children: An International Multicenter Study.

Objective: Evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients Study Design: Multicenter Case Series Setting: 5 tertiary care hospitals (3 in China, 1 in France, 1 in Germany) Subjects and Methods: 394 PCR confirmed COVID-19 positive patients were screened, and those with olfactory or gustatory dysfunction were included. Data including demographics, COVID-19 severity, patient outcome, and the incidence and degree of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction were collected and analyzed. The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to quantify olfactory and gustatory dysfunction respectively.

Field Performance of Cryopreserved Seed-derived Maize Plants.

Background: Cryo-preservation of plant materials in liquid nitrogen (LN) has been described as a suitable technology to conserve genetic resources of several species. However, the potential effects of LN in the subsequent plant growth in the field should be studied before large-scale implementation of cryopreserved germplasm banks.

Objective: To describe the field performance of cryopreserved seed-derived maize adult plants.

Seed Cryostorage Enhances Subsequent Plant Productivity in the Forage Species Teramnus Labialis (L.F.) Spreng.

Background: Teramnus labialis is an herbaceous legume that serves as a source of carbohydrates and proteins for animals and humans, and is valued for its nitrogen contribution to soil. The benefits of this species are, however, limited by low seed availability, small seed size and low in situ seed germination levels, due to physical dormancy. Cryostorage has been shown to be beneficial for both seed storage and breaking physical dormancy in seeds of various species.

Health-Related Quality of Life Instruments for Children With Cochlear Implants: Development of Child and Parent-Proxy Measures.

Objectives: Severe to profound hearing loss is associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL), reflecting the wide-ranging effects of deafness on spoken language, cognition, and social/behavioral development. However, there are currently no cochlear implant (CI)-specific HRQoL measures that were developed using the Food and Drug Administration Guidance on patient-reported outcomes. This study developed the first HRQoL instruments (CI-QoL) for children with CIs, ages 6 to 12, and a parent-proxy measure for this age group.

Comparisons of IQ in Children With and Without Cochlear Implants: Longitudinal Findings and Associations With Language.

Objectives: To make longitudinal comparisons of intelligence quotient (IQ) in children with cochlear implants (CIs) and typical hearing peers from early in development to the school-age period. Children with additional comorbidities and CIs were also evaluated. To estimate the impact of socioeconomic status and oral language on school-age cognitive performance.

Symbolic Play and Novel Noun Learning in Deaf and Hearing Children: Longitudinal Effects of Access to Sound on Early Precursors of Language.

In the largest, longitudinal study of young, deaf children before and three years after cochlear implantation, we compared symbolic play and novel noun learning to age-matched hearing peers. Participants were 180 children from six cochlear implant centers and 96 hearing children. Symbolic play was measured during five minutes of videotaped, structured solitary play.