Study of Factors Influencing Medical, Psychological and Pedagogical Rehabilitation Efficacy in Preschool Children with Hearing Disorders

Objective . The aim of the study is to identify the most significant factors influencing the audio-verbal rehabilitation outcomes in preschool children. Methods. The study included 104 children, 3–7 years of age, with hearing loss who underwent course of audioverbal rehabilitation in audiology center: 50 children after cochlear implantation, 51 children with hearing aids, 3 children without hearing care. The following data was collected at the beginning of the course: gender, type and degree of hearing loss, comorbidities, method and age of hearing care, family structure, preschool organization type. The scale of social and psychological diagnostics was filled in. The dynamics of indicators were estimated at the end of the course. The overall result was rated as high, good, medium or low. Correlations between clinical, audiological, social, psychological data and different rehabilitation outcomes were estimated. Results. Degree and type of hearing loss, method of hearing care, gender, age, and social aspects do not affect the rehabilitation outcomes. Hearing aid was performed before 3 years of age in 67% of children, and after 3 years of age in 33% of children in the group with high and good results. Hearing aid was performed after 3 years of age in 61% of children, and before 3 years of age in 39% of children in the group with medium and low results (p < 0.01). Burdened anamnesis and comorbidity was determined in 28% of children with high/good outcomes and in 59% of children with medium/low outcomes (p < 0.01). Children with medium results rarely have previous audiology therapy, 43.8% of cases (p < 0.01). Children with medium and low outcomes have statistically worse score according to the scale of social and psychological diagnostics (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion . High results of audio-verbal rehabilitation in preschool children can be predicted by the age of primary hearing care (before 3 years of age), absence of comorbidities, previous audiology therapy, score at the scale of social and psychological diagnostics less than 17 points.