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SPEECH DEVELOPMENT IN HEARING-IMPAIRED CHILDREN IN ARAR CITY, KSA

Shouq Saud J Alanazi , Reem Farhan Mater Alanazi , Noof Saud J Alenezi , Fatimah Yousef Abdulateef Albedaiwi , Sarah Fereih M Alenezi , Hajar Salah Khulaif Alenzi , Danah Hamdan Hmoud Althomaly , ‎ Athir Athallah Hlail Alruwaili

Background: Hearing impairment is a factor that directly compromises the individual's language. This can vary according to the type and degree of hearing loss. Objective: to investigate the relation between Speech development in hearing-impaired children in Arar city, KSA. Methods: A cross-sectional study will be conducted in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia. This study will include randomly selected participants aging between 0- 6 years old. A systematic random sampling technique was used from the children attending 5 randomly selected primary health care centers. We included every 2nd child. Collected data will be coded and analyzed using SPSS program (version 15) . P-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Results: Hearing disorders was 13.6% and speech delay was 23.1%. There were 52.8% with moderate hearing loss, 33.3% with severe hearing loss, and 13.9% with deafness. 66.7% of cases were visiting a doctor. Cases having hearing aids were 50%, Hearing improvement from using hearing aids were 33.3%, 66.7% show no improvement, cases with speech improvement from using hearing aids were 25%, 75% show no improvement. Conclusion: in children 1-6 years old , in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia, hearing disorders affects the speech development to a varying and considerable degrees. There was speech improvement after using hearing aids in 25% of cases. Key words: hearing disorders, speech development, children, Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia.

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