Language development and hearing impairment: literature review

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to review the scientific production about the relationship between language performance and hearing impairment, as well as analyze the observational studies on the subject. It is a literature review, in which it was used the descriptors "Hearing Loss", "Child Language", "Language", "Phonology" and "Vocabulary" in the databases Capes Portal , Bireme, SciELO and Pubmed during the period of July-December 2012. Inclusion criteria were articles available in journals published between 2007-2012. Criterion for exclusion was not having as main focus the acquisition / development of language in children and / or adolescents with hearing impairment. The analytical observational studies were checked by means of 22 items related to information that should be present in the title and abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion, recommended by the STROBE initiative (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). 26 articles were found, which were separated into the following themes: oral language, written language and reading and literature review. It was found that many articles mention the benefits of shorter time of sensory deprivation as well as the longest speech therapy and increased use of Individual hearing aids or cochlear implant. The data analysis through the STROBE initiative points out that most of the analyzed papers presented necessary information, especially in the items title and abstract and introduction. The scientific works studied in the literature review revealed that there are no protocols with specific normal standards for individuals with hearing impairment.