Long-term evaluation of language development in profoundly deaf children

A group of 100 profoundly deaf children were examined in order to evaluate the influence of the hearing loss on their speech development. Data concerning the speech therapy, as well as peculiar aspects of linguistic performance, were collected through a questionnaire compiled by the authors in cooperation with the children's relatives. The following arguments were considered: gestual vs oral communication, language development, overall comprehension, reading. The oral method had been used in most cases with programs performed by speech therapists. Based on the frequency of the rehabilitative sessions the children could be subdivided into two main groups: those with two or less sessions/week, and those with three or more sessions/week. The second group obtained the highest scores in comprehension and linguistic production. This study proves that a prolonged and close relationship between child and therapist may lead to the best results of any rehabilitative program.