Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss

BackgroundSocial communication difficulties are often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as language disorder, intellectual development disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, which impedes the investigation of the specific role of social commu...

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Main Authors: Daniel Holzinger, Johannes Fellinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.944814/full
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author Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
author_facet Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
author_sort Daniel Holzinger
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSocial communication difficulties are often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as language disorder, intellectual development disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, which impedes the investigation of the specific role of social communication problems in mental health outcomes.AimsWe investigated the association between conversation difficulties and increased risk of mental health problems in schoolchildren with hearing loss. It can be assumed of this sample that conversation difficulties are primarily due to limited auditory access to language rather than neurobiological deficits.MethodsFive complete birth cohorts of Carinthian children (n = 53) with significant hearing loss and an intelligence quotient over 70 were assessed in terms of language abilities in standardized tests and in terms of their conversation skills by use of a short teacher checklist developed by the authors. Mental health problems were assessed by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire by parents and teachers.ResultsConversation deficits were significantly correlated with lower SDQ emotional problems and total problem scores as rated by parents and lower peer problems scores as rated by teachers. Controlling for degree of hearing loss, maternal education and language skills, confirmed the specific value of conversation skills as a predictor of emotional problems (p = 0.010).ConclusionWith regard to mental health, our results suggest a focus on the assessment of conversation skills in addition to language abilities.
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spelling doaj.art-606255cca3fb44d1904a7162c644ce132022-12-22T04:08:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2022-10-01710.3389/feduc.2022.944814944814Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing lossDaniel Holzinger0Daniel Holzinger1Daniel Holzinger2Johannes Fellinger3Johannes Fellinger4Johannes Fellinger5Institute of Neurology of Senses and Language, Hospital of St. John of God, Linz, AustriaResearch Institute for Developmental Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, AustriaInstitute of Linguistics, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaInstitute of Neurology of Senses and Language, Hospital of St. John of God, Linz, AustriaResearch Institute for Developmental Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, AustriaDivision of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaBackgroundSocial communication difficulties are often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as language disorder, intellectual development disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, which impedes the investigation of the specific role of social communication problems in mental health outcomes.AimsWe investigated the association between conversation difficulties and increased risk of mental health problems in schoolchildren with hearing loss. It can be assumed of this sample that conversation difficulties are primarily due to limited auditory access to language rather than neurobiological deficits.MethodsFive complete birth cohorts of Carinthian children (n = 53) with significant hearing loss and an intelligence quotient over 70 were assessed in terms of language abilities in standardized tests and in terms of their conversation skills by use of a short teacher checklist developed by the authors. Mental health problems were assessed by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire by parents and teachers.ResultsConversation deficits were significantly correlated with lower SDQ emotional problems and total problem scores as rated by parents and lower peer problems scores as rated by teachers. Controlling for degree of hearing loss, maternal education and language skills, confirmed the specific value of conversation skills as a predictor of emotional problems (p = 0.010).ConclusionWith regard to mental health, our results suggest a focus on the assessment of conversation skills in addition to language abilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.944814/fullconversation skillssocial communicationpragmatic languagemental healthemotional problemsdeaf
spellingShingle Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Daniel Holzinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
Johannes Fellinger
Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
Frontiers in Education
conversation skills
social communication
pragmatic language
mental health
emotional problems
deaf
title Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
title_full Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
title_fullStr Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
title_full_unstemmed Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
title_short Conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
title_sort conversation difficulties rather than language deficits are linked to emotional problems in school children with hearing loss
topic conversation skills
social communication
pragmatic language
mental health
emotional problems
deaf
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.944814/full
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