What factors are associated with infant hearing aid use? A parent survey using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Objective: Hearing aid use is lowest in 0-3-year-olds with hearing loss, placing spoken language development at risk. Existing interventions lack effectiveness and are typically not based on a theoretically driven, comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing infant hearing aid use. The present study is the first to address this gap in understanding.

Introducing the READY Study: DHH Young people's Well-Being and Self-Determination.

READY is a self-report prospective longitudinal study of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) young people aged 16 to 19 years on entry. Its overarching aim is to explore the risk and protective factors for successful transition to adulthood. This article introduces the cohort of 163 DHH young people, background characteristics and study design.

In their own words: The impact of subtle language and communication difficulties as described by autistic girls and boys without intellectual disability.

Subtle language and communication difficulties are experienced by many autistic individuals even when they do not have additional learning disabilities. These difficulties may affect a person's day-to-day living, social relationships and emotional well-being. However, currently, there is not much research into this topic.

Writing in Role: Developing Theory of Mind in the Written Language of Deaf Children.

While there is an emerging body of research investigating the associations between Theory of Mind and reading in both hearing and deaf children, little attention has been given to the connections between ToM and writing, and the potential for developing ToM through the process of writing. In a descriptive study, the authors focused on investigating the use of writing in role as a means not only of looking for evidence of ToM understandings in text, but of considering the utility of writing in role as a possible strategy for the development of ToM. The written samples of 43 deaf children (aged 7;2 years-11;11 years) were examined, and evidence of ToM was found in the writing of 81% (n = 35), with children demonstrating abilities across the spectrum of development.

ManCAD100: 100 Years of Audiology and Deaf Education at Manchester.

In 2019, the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness celebrates its 100th anniversary. To mark the centenary, this special issue is a collection of papers that showcases current research in Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness. The Editorial provides a brief history and description of the Centre and an overview of the special issue.

Evidence of Theory of Mind in the Written Language of Deaf Children.

The link between Theory of Mind (ToM) and literacy is increasingly being recognized in the literature. However, the focus to date has concentrated on the connections between reading and ToM, with an emphasis on the ways in which ToM is implicated in making inferences from text and suggestions that engaging in reading fiction can support the development of ToM. The exploratory study presented in this paper is unique in its approach as it widens the focus to consider the relationship between ToM and writing.

Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates associated with ulcerative keratitis.

A collection of 63 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with ulcerative keratitis, collected from six centres in England, were typed using serotyping and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR, and screened for several variable virulence-related genotypes and phenotypes. Sixty-one percent of the isolates were of either serotype O1 or serotype O11, but there was no evidence for a common clone. The majority of isolates (59%) were PCR-positive for exoU rather than for exoS (38%), and carried a-type fliC genes (76%) rather than b-type (24%).