Assessment of Children With Hearing Loss and Co-Occurring Medical Disorders: Challenging Cases

Abstract

Purpose Assessing children with hearing loss and co-occurring medical disorders can be challenging. The purpose of this clinical focus article is to highlight multidisciplinary decision making and evaluation considerations when assessing communication skills of children with hearing loss and co-occurring disorders: velopharyngeal insufficiency, childhood apraxia of speech, and autism spectrum disorder. Method Case examples are described to illustrate multidisciplinary decision-making processes for assessing the communication skills of children with hearing loss who have co-occurring velopharyngeal insufficiency, childhood apraxia of speech, or autism spectrum disorder. Conclusions Clinicians must have knowledge of speech sound development, language development, and social communication for differential diagnosis and treatment planning for children with hearing loss and co-occurring disorders. A team-based approach is recommended when assessing and treating children with hearing loss. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists should feel comfortable recommending other professionals to help with differential diagnosis and treatment considerations when appropriate. Continued assessment and monitoring by a multidisciplinary team for individuals with hearing loss is recommended across the life-span.