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Abstract
Since little information is available on the outcome of early hearing intervention programs in South Africa, this article examines data on infants and families registered with a family-centred, home-based intervention program (HI HOPES) over a 12-month period in order to track the effectiveness of the holistic unbiased support to families of infants and toddlers with a hearing-loss. The aim of HI HOPES, which is based on the SKI-HI model of early intervention in the USA, is to ensure that families are enabled to make informed choices for their unique infant. Data were gathered on 32 infants ages birth to three years and their families using both qualitative and quantitive measures which included analysis of demographic data, quarterly language assessments, and parent satisfaction surveys. The report on the pilot year of this early intervention program shows that, though the sample is small, there is significant improvement in infant receptive and expressive language for infants identified before seven months of age, as well as a high level of satisfaction from families who have received services.
| Abbreviations | ||
| DEAFSA | = | Deaf Federation of South Africa |
| DM | = | Deaf mentor |
| EHDI | = | Early hearing detection and intervention |
| HI HOPES | = | Home intervention: Hearing and language opportunities, parent education services |
| HPCSA | = | Health Professions Council of South Africa |
| JCIH | = | Joint Committee on Infant Hearing |
| LDS | = | Language development scale |
| OAE | = | Otoacoustic emissions |
| PA | = | Parent advisor |
| SKI-HI | = | Sensory (kids) impaired home intervention |
| Abbreviations | ||
| DEAFSA | = | Deaf Federation of South Africa |
| DM | = | Deaf mentor |
| EHDI | = | Early hearing detection and intervention |
| HI HOPES | = | Home intervention: Hearing and language opportunities, parent education services |
| HPCSA | = | Health Professions Council of South Africa |
| JCIH | = | Joint Committee on Infant Hearing |
| LDS | = | Language development scale |
| OAE | = | Otoacoustic emissions |
| PA | = | Parent advisor |
| SKI-HI | = | Sensory (kids) impaired home intervention |
Dado que existe poca información sobre los resultados de los programas de intervención temprana en Sudáfrica, este artículo examina datos sobre infantes y familias registradas en un programa centrado en la familia, con base en el hogar, de intervención (HI HOPES), durante un período de 12 meses. Se buscó rastrear la efectividad de un apoyo holístico no sesgado a las familias de infantes y niños con hipoacusia. El objetivo del HI HOPES, basado en el modelo SKI HI de intervención temprana en los EEUU, es asegurarse que las familias puedan hacer escogencias informadas para su niño único y singular. Los datos se colectaron de 32 niños con edades desde el nacimiento hasta los tres años y de sus familias, usando medidas cualitativas y cuantitativas, que incluyen análisis de datos demográficos, evaluaciones trimestrales de lenguaje y encuestas de satisfacción de los padres. El reporte del año piloto de este programa de intervención temprana muestra que, aunque lo muestra es pequeña, existe una mejoría significativa en el lenguaje receptivo y expresivo de los niños identificados antes de los siete meses de edad. Igualmente, existen altos niveles de satisfacción entre las familias que han recibidos los servicios.
Notes
1. SKI-HI has developed over 37 years in the USA and has been validated as an early intervention program through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs three times
2. The LDS is a criterion-referenced test for infants with a hearing loss, developed by SKI-HI, which has been validated three times by the USA federal government especially for children of birth to three years with hearing loss.
3. The term ‘coloured’ is the contentious term for people of mixed race, usually black and white races mixed, living in South Africa.
4. The term ‘African’ refers to the indigenous people of the African continent and reflects a variety of ethnic groupings, which nonetheless have a great deal in common in terms of background, culture, and descent.
5. Parents reported on what they had gleaned from their audiologist.
6. Child 9 has been diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy making assessment of language development challenging.
