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Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations...
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Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations with Hearing Loss

A Special Issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067) belonging to the section "Pediatric Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2027 | Viewed by 1416

Editor

Dr. Sara Ghiselli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, “Guglielmo da Saliceto” Hospital, Via Cantone del Cristo 40, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
2. Department of Medicine, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
Interests: newborn hearing screening; listening effort in patients with hearing loss and hearing device users; cochlear implant in children with hearing loss; hearing restoration in patients with hearing loss; cognitive e global development in children with hearing loss; etiopathology (especially genetics) in patients with hearing loss

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The effective management of pediatric hearing loss (HL) represents one of the most successful translational efforts in public health over the last decades. Thus, the current clinical focus, reflecting screening, diagnostic, and rehabilitative advancements in the field, is on assessment and intervention strategies after initial diagnosis and technological fitting to secure early and consistent access to a complete language modality, whether signed, spoken, or both, and to provide the tools, technology, and support to optimize cognitive, communication, and linguistic development.

Current advancements in objective biomarkers are expanding our understanding of the functional development of the central auditory pathways (CAEP, pupillometry), speech processing (fNIRS, EEG), and effective real-world usage and audibility of devices (device data logging), allowing clinicians to objectively verify the efficacy of individualized treatment plans, including patient-specific cochlear implant programming.

Given this background, we welcome contributions that will discuss new possibilities in precision medicine and data-driven approaches to rehabilitation, inform about further advancements in objective biomarkers of hearing abilities and neural plasticity, and present new insights into the strategies that may ultimately bridge the identified gaps in long-term outcomes, especially those mediated by socio-economic factors.

Dr. Sara Ghiselli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Publisher’s Notice

At the request of Dr. Amanda Saksida and Dr. Marta Fantoni, two members of the original Guest Editor team for the Special Issue “Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations with Hearing Loss”, they will no longer be involved in the editorial handling of the Special Issue as of 29 January 2026. This change has been agreed upon by the remaining Guest Editor and the Editorial Office, and this Special Issue website has been updated accordingly. The Special Issue will continue to be handled by the remaining Guest Editor in accordance with MDPI’s Special Issue and editorial policies.

Keywords

  • pediatric hearing loss
  • rehabilitation
  • objective biomarkers
  • neural plasticity
  • precision medicine
  • cochlear implants

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1269 KB  
Article
Cochlear Implant Fitting Profiles in Children with Congenital Cytomegalovirus: One-Year Longitudinal Comparison with GJB2-Related Hearing Loss
by Sara Ghiselli, Patrizia Consolino, Diego Di Lisi, Patrizia Frontera, Alessia Ghia and Domenico Cuda
Children 2026, 13(10), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13101283 - 22 Sep 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a major cause of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss and may involve peripheral and central auditory pathways. This study investigated longitudinal cochlear implant (CI) fitting parameters in children with cCMV-related hearing loss, including the influence of MRI-detectable [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a major cause of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss and may involve peripheral and central auditory pathways. This study investigated longitudinal cochlear implant (CI) fitting parameters in children with cCMV-related hearing loss, including the influence of MRI-detectable brain abnormalities, using GJB2-related hearing loss as a reference. Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included 56 children (89 implanted ears) divided into cCMV, altered cCMV (with MRI abnormalities), and GJB2 groups. Outcomes were evaluated at activation and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after activation using longitudinal mixed-effects models with participant and ear nested within participant as random intercepts. Results: Significant group-by-time interactions were identified for eCAP, impedance, C and T levels, and dynamic range. Adjusted eCAP differences were time-specific rather than uniform throughout follow-up. C and T levels showed no significant adjusted between-group contrasts, and dynamic range differed only between cCMV and GJB2 at 1 month. Aided PTA improved over time and was better in the cCMV group than in the other groups. CAP scores improved over time and were lower in the altered cCMV group than in both the GJB2 and cCMV groups. Conclusions: CI fitting parameters followed different longitudinal patterns across aetiological groups, but most between-group differences were time-specific. MRI abnormalities were associated with poorer functional auditory performance rather than a uniform electrophysiological profile. Objective fitting measures, aided audibility, and functional auditory performance should therefore be interpreted jointly during follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations with Hearing Loss)
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22 pages, 319 KB  
Article
Language Learning Activities in Educational Settings Incrementally Predict Language Ability Beyond Daily Conversation in Preschoolers with Cochlear Implants: A Comparative Study with Normal-Hearing Peers
by Meilin He, Chie Obuchi and Inho Chung
Children 2026, 13(6), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060806 - 11 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study examined how different types of language activities in educational settings predict language ability in preschoolers with cochlear implants (CIs) versus normal-hearing (NH) peers. Predictor variables included two dimensions of language activities (language learning activities: shared reading, word games, and story [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study examined how different types of language activities in educational settings predict language ability in preschoolers with cochlear implants (CIs) versus normal-hearing (NH) peers. Predictor variables included two dimensions of language activities (language learning activities: shared reading, word games, and story retelling; daily communication activities: routine conversations and free play talk), as well as auditory utilization status (awareness of sounds, perception of speech sounds, and attentive listening to teachers/peers), learning attentional state, and family socioeconomic status (SERS). The outcome variable was language ability, measured with the Mandarin Clinical Evaluation of Language for Preschoolers’ Core Scale (MCELP-CS), and control variables included age and, for the CI group only, age of implantation. Methods: Participants included 189 CI (mean age = 4.53 years, SD = 0.83) and 210 NH preschoolers (mean age = 4.64 years, SD = 0.83). All predictor and control variables were collected via teacher-reported questionnaires (self-compiled by the research team). Statistical analyses used hierarchical regression with separate models for each group. Results: For the CI group, after controlling for age and age of implantation, engagement in language learning activities emerged as the most stable and independent predictor of language ability. Auditory utilization status was another significant predictor, and its inclusion substantially increased the model’s R2. For the NH group, language ability was primarily predicted by age-related maturation, with language learning activities showing additional predictive value, while daily communication activities and learning attentional state contributed very little. Conclusions: Findings suggest that for educational rehabilitation of CI preschoolers: increasing engagement in language learning activities in classrooms may be more beneficial than relying on daily conversation or merely improving attention alone; meanwhile, auditory utilization skills should also be fostered synergistically. Importantly, language intervention models designed for NH preschoolers cannot be directly transferred to CI preschoolers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations with Hearing Loss)

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 581 KB  
Review
The Otoacoustic Emissions in the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening in China and India: An Update on the Asian States (2005 to 2025)
by Stavros Hatzopoulos, Ludovica Cardinali, Piotr Henryk Skarzynski and Giovanna Zimatore
Children 2026, 13(6), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060751 - 28 May 2026
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Background: China and India represent a large proportion of the Asian birth cohort and have produced extensive but heterogeneous evidence on neonatal hearing screening. This scoping review summarizes studies published between 2005 and 2025 on otoacoustic-emission-based neonatal hearing screening programs in these countries, [...] Read more.
Background: China and India represent a large proportion of the Asian birth cohort and have produced extensive but heterogeneous evidence on neonatal hearing screening. This scoping review summarizes studies published between 2005 and 2025 on otoacoustic-emission-based neonatal hearing screening programs in these countries, with emphasis on program implementation, screening coverage, the prevalence of congenital and bilateral hearing loss, follow-up, and intervention pathways. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using predefined keywords. Studies reporting screening protocols, coverage, prevalence, or follow-up outcomes were included. The standard English language filter was used. A total of 19 papers were considered for this review. Results: The data from the two assessed Asian states show two clearly different screening implementation profiles. In China, universal hearing screening has evolved into a large-scale and increasingly standardized system, supported by technical specifications and regional or municipal databases. The reported screening coverage was 85.8% in early rural programs, 93.6% in Shanghai, and 97.9% in Liuzhou. National institutional surveys indicate that UNHS has now been substantially implemented in many regions. Reported hearing loss prevalence estimates generally ranged from 1.66 to 3.43 per 1000 newborns, although follow-up and regional equity remain problematic, especially in rural settings. In India, the evidence is dominated by tertiary-hospital feasibility studies rather than a uniformly implemented national program. Reported hearing loss prevalence estimates varied more widely, from 0.29 to 5.60 per 1000 screened newborns, largely reflecting differences in study design, screening timing, referral completion, and population risk profile. Across both countries, OAE-based two-stage or sequential OAE + AABR protocols reduced referral rates and improved case identification, but loss to follow-up remained a recurrent limitation. Conclusions: China and India provide complementary models of neonatal hearing screening expansion. China demonstrates the effects of system-level scale-up, whereas India highlights the feasibility and constraints of hospital-based implementation in a highly diverse healthcare environment. Future priorities include stronger follow-up systems, harmonized reporting standards, and broader dissemination of outcome data through peer-reviewed publications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Intervention in Language and Communication for Pediatric Populations with Hearing Loss)
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