Profile of hearing impaired children and therapy approachs in our country

Our country is among the countries where congenital hearing loss are frequently seen. Approximately 2500 infants born with hearing loss every year in Turkey. Hearing loss in infancy and early childhood affect speech-language, social, emotional, cognitive and academic skills of the child negatively. The most critical period for speech and language development is the first two years of life. If the child not diagnosed in this period, the most important time may be lost. With identification of hearing loss in early ages, provision of the appropriate amplification (hearing aid or cochlear implant) and initation of regular auditory (re)habilitation programs in early ages, children who have hearing loss can develop in speech-language, cognitive, social and emotional areas as their peers who have normal hearing.