**7. Acknowledgements**

We thank Steven Marcrum for thorough proofreading and suggestions for improving the manuscript.

#### **8. References**


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We thank Steven Marcrum for thorough proofreading and suggestions for improving the

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**Part 2** 

**Childhood Hearing Loss**


**Part 2** 

**Childhood Hearing Loss**

92 Hearing Loss

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**5** 

*Brazil* 

**Families of Children with Hearing Loss** 

Bolsoni-Silva Alessandra Turini and Rodrigues Olga Maria Piazentin Rolim

The present chapter presents an empirical study of parental practices and behaviors related to children with and without hearing loss. Studies of families of children with hearing loss, as well as aspects related to the influence of parental practices upon the behavior of children

People with communication disorders caused by hearing loss may present complex manifestations involving linguistic, cognitive, behavioral, psychological and social alterations. The causes can be isolated or associated to clinical aspects of different neurological or genetic problems. Children with hearing loss (HL) may be considered as a high risk population due to the presence of indicators such as: language delay, which involve communication skills, low academic progress and social emotional level (Calderon, 2000). The presence of such impairments may cause some difficulties concerning the

Some preventive measures should be taken more actively including the primary ones which reduce the birth incidence of children with hearing loss and secondary ones that help in its

In addition to hearing screening programs researchers emphasize the importance of training health professionals to guide parents on how to communicate with their children. The need to decide beforehand (without having enough knowledge of their benefits) the communication form that is to be used with their children possibly is a stress trigger which may influence the quality of the interaction between parents and children. (Gravel & O´Gara, 2003). Early identification of hearing loss and the consequent counseling services available in the community may help parents establish effective relationships with their children (Marchesi, 1996), and if followed by intervention allows fast access to available technologies (Smith, 2008). If this happens before six months of age, the life of the child will be positively affected, increasing the prognosis of better school performance (Smith, 2008;

In the Brazilian culture parents emphatically employ verbal behavior to interact with the children from an early age. This type of behavior provides no positive effect for children

development of the children and the relationship with their parents.

**1. Introduction** 

give support to the present research.

**1.1 Families of children with hearing loss** 

early detection. (Gatto & Tochetto, 2007).

Marscharck, 2001; Yoshinaga-Itano & Sedey, 2000).

**and Parental Educational Practices** 

*Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP* 
