School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2011 Aug;35(4):377-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00744.x.
This study examines the mental health and associated risk factors of children with hearing loss.
A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of hearing loss among Australian children using data drawn from Wave 1 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (2004) (LSACs) (n=4589). LSACs provides data which assesses family circumstances, children's hearing problems, chronic health conditions, social and emotional difficulties, communications disorders and language, motor skills and educational outcomes. Outcomes for children aged 4-5 years identified with hearing loss (n=93) were compared with 4,496 children without hearing loss.
Children with hearing loss showed elevated prevalence across most dimensions of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and on indicators of communication disorders, language and cognitive development, and motor skills. Reduced receptive language skills and increased difficulties understanding others were predictive of increased psychosocial difficulties in children with hearing problems.
Australian children with hearing problems face multiple concurrent health and developmental problems. Moreover, children with hearing problems exhibit behavioural problems when they do not understand what is going on around them. Without appropriate interventions, these children are at risk of developing mental health disorders.
An epidemiological study of hearing in children is indicated. Children with receptive hearing problems require access to amplification, communication training, and psychosocial support. Attention must also be given to building design to reduce physical barriers to hearing.
本研究探讨了听力损失儿童的心理健康及其相关风险因素。
采用澳大利亚儿童纵向研究（LSAC）（2004 年）第 1 波数据（n=4589）进行的横断面分析，评估了听力损失对澳大利亚儿童的影响。LSAC 提供的数据评估了家庭环境、儿童听力问题、慢性健康状况、社会和情感困难、沟通障碍和语言、运动技能以及教育成果。将 4-5 岁被诊断为听力损失的儿童（n=93）的结果与 4496 名无听力损失的儿童进行了比较。
听力损失儿童在情绪和行为困难的大多数方面，以及在沟通障碍、语言和认知发展以及运动技能的指标上，表现出较高的患病率。听力障碍儿童的接受性语言技能下降和理解他人的困难增加，预示着他们的心理社会困难增加。
澳大利亚听力有问题的儿童面临多种并发的健康和发育问题。此外，当听力有问题的儿童无法理解周围发生的事情时，他们会表现出行为问题。如果没有适当的干预，这些儿童有患上心理健康障碍的风险。
需要对儿童听力进行流行病学研究。有接受性听力问题的儿童需要获得助听器、沟通训练和心理社会支持。还必须注意建筑设计，以减少听力的物理障碍。
