Deaf Toddlers: Parent Intervention Benefits
- A new study indicates that parent-mediated intervention (PMI) can significantly improve communication outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).
- Jones,Ph.D., of Northwestern University, and her team conducted a clinical trial involving 96 parent-child pairs.
- The study divided the families into two groups: one receiving PMI via weekly telehealth sessions for six months, and a control group.
Parent intervention offers a critical advantage for deaf and hard-of-hearing toddlers, leading to enhanced interaction skills, according to new research. The findings, published in Pediatrics, highlight the benefits of parent-mediated intervention (PMI), which can significantly improve communication outcomes. The study tracked 96 parent-child pairs and found that children exposed to sign language experienced even greater gains. researchers observed considerable improvements after PMI, particularly increased use of communication strategies by parents. This early intervention method is a pivotal step in supporting language outcomes for children with hearing loss. Discover how News Directory 3 is covering the latest in child advancement and what the next steps in research entail.
Parent-Mediated Intervention Boosts Communication for Deaf Toddlers
Updated May 27, 2025
A new study indicates that parent-mediated intervention (PMI) can significantly improve communication outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). The research, published in Pediatrics, highlights the benefits of actively involving parents in their child’s early communication development.
Maranda K. Jones,Ph.D., of Northwestern University, and her team conducted a clinical trial involving 96 parent-child pairs. The children, aged 12 to 18 months, had been diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss but had no other diagnoses. All children had at least one parent with typical hearing and were exposed to spoken language.
The study divided the families into two groups: one receiving PMI via weekly telehealth sessions for six months, and a control group. Researchers measured communication mode by assessing exposure to sign language.
The results showed that the PMI group demonstrated greater parent strategy use and improved child communication skills. The intervention’s impact on child communication was notably stronger for children who were exposed to sign language, according to the findings.
“the current study is a first step toward the implementation of evidence-based early communication interventions designed to maximize language outcomes for DHH children,” jones said.
What’s next
These findings suggest that early communication intervention, notably parent-mediated approaches, holds promise for maximizing language development in children with hearing loss.Future research may explore how to best implement these interventions in diverse settings and populations.