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The impact of language skills on mental health in teenagers with hearing
impairments.



Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of
language competence level and mental distress in teenagers with hearing
impairments.



Method: 43 pupils were given a battery of linguistic tests and the
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which was also completed
by 40 parents. Comparisons were made between the group of 33 children in
mainstream education and 10 who were in a segregated school for the
deaf.



Results: The children had impaired language skills relative to published
norms, especially marked in segregated schools. Parents rated children
as having more distress than published norms. Those with superior level
of spoken language had fewer peer relationship problems in mainstream
education, but significantly more in segregated schools. The reverse was
almost significant for those proficient in signed language.



Conclusion: Peer relationship problems are associated with the language
competence levels in the way that children at school communicate with
one another.





Fellinger J, Holzinger D, Beitel C, Laucht M, Goldberg DP.

Health Centre for the Deaf, Hospital St John of God, Linz, Austria.

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2009 Feb 5





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