The lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to many potential negative effects on children. There are many concerns about what it means for socialization, education, nutrition, and how children who need additional resources in school will fare.
Gordon et al. (2021) conducted a study with children recruited from the Cochlear Implant Program at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Ontario, Canada. In this cohort study of 45 children, sound environments, cataloged through data logging within their cochlear implants, were measured both before and during COVID-19 lockdowns in Ontario, Canada. The pre-COVID-19 ratio of speech: quiet (1.6:1.0) significantly reduced to 0.9:1.0 during lockdowns, particularly in school-aged children.
Hours of sound were captured by the Cochlear Nucleus data logging system (Cochlear Corporation) in six categories of input levels (<40, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ≥80 A-weighted dB sound pressure levels [dBA]) and six auditory scene categories (quiet, speech, speech-in-noise, music, noise, and other).
The findings of this cohort study indicate a clear association of COVID-19 lockdowns with a reduction in spoken communication access for these children. COVID-19 lockdowns were linked to a reduction in exposure to spoken communication. As children with hearing loss are already at risk of less-than-optimal outcomes for language, this additional reduced exposure could have increased risk of poorer outcomes. Making parents aware of the reduction and encouraging increased spoken language during the pandemic could help mitigate the results.
Reference
Gordon K, et al. (2021) Exposure to spoken communication in children with cochlear implants during the COVID-19 lockdown. JAMA Otolaryngo–Head & Neck Surg. February 18. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.5496.
Related Posts
The Utilization of Telehealth Services
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Audiology (2020) provided audiologists with guidance regarding the use of telehealth services. In October 2021, the Academy released a position statement titled The Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Audiological Services. Members can access this statement here. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have expanded telehealth services,…
Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately five percent of the pediatric population. Up to 50 percent of children with ADHD also exhibit motor control and balance issues in addition to the more commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Fidgeting, poor motor planning, increased postural sway, and difficulty sitting still may be related…
Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults
At the end of September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data overviewing rates of death resulting from unintentional falls between the years of 1999–2020 by adults 65 years and older (Garnett et al, 2022). The report showed that death rates have increased, with the largest increase seen by those aged…