Cochlear implantation of prelingually deafened adults is a contentious issue and information about the outcomes of late-implanted prelingually deafened (LIPD) adults is still largely undocumented. The question this study set out to answer, is what impact a late cochlear implantation has on the communication-related outcomes, both self-reported and objectively measured, of prelingually deafened adults. Consequently, this investigation determined the auditory, language, speech-intelligibility and quality of life outcomes of a group of LIPD adults. A combined qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional research approach was utilized for this multiple case study investigation. A semi-structured interview, audiological test battery and communication assessments were conducted using seven LIPD adults of a well-established cochlear implant program in South Africa. The results of the study indicated that the LIPD adults’ objectively assessed auditory, language and speech intelligibility outcomes are poorer than would be expected from good cochlear implant users, but the self-reported outcomes indicated that they experienced the cochlear implant as worthwhile and positive. The findings of this study provide more in-depth information regarding the communication-related outcomes of this population, and this information may be used by audiologists and speech-language therapists during counselling of prelingually deafened candidates to ensure appropriate expectations. Copyright / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

Any factor that interferes with a child’s ability to interact with the environment in a normal manner is a potential source of, or contributing factor to, the presence of a developmental delay (Rossetti, 2001). According to Bam (2001) the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is considered as an established risk factor under the category of serious infections and does not only have a negative effect on the normal development of a child, but also leads to serious audiological complications (Bankaitis&Schountz, 1998). Heterogeneity of auditory manifestations in individuals with HIV/AIDS is a feature of this virus (Friedman&Noffsinger, 1998). When considering the wide spectrum of audiological problems associated with pediatric HIV/AIDS, the role of the audiologist in the treatment of these children are highlighted (Bankaitis, 1998). Effective treatment of this heterogeneous population can however only take place within a team of medical professionals as their complex needs require a wide spectrum of skills (McNeilly, 2000). In South Africa nursing personnel play an important role in the early identification of a hearing loss and other audiological abnormalities (Thathiah, 2001). Part of a nurse’s job involve the provision of services in hearing health care, therefore they can serve as assistants for the audiological profession (Thathiah, 2001). Although rehabilitation services in rural areas are limited, developmental disabilities can be prevented or minimized if it is identified early. Early identification of hearing losses and other audiological abnormalities associated with HIV/AIDS can however only take place if nursing personnel have the necessary knowledge and skills to address these problems efficiently. To thus provide optimal audiological services to children with HIV/AIDS nursing personnel must be able to function as a link between the audiologist and the community. In the light of the current government involvement with the provision of optimal health care service to people with HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), it is necessary to recognize and address the audiological needs of these individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of nursing personnel, working in state hospitals in North West, regarding the audiological manifestations of HIV/AIDS in the pediatric population. A quantitive research design was employed in the form of a descriptive survey. The knowledge of 156 nursing personnel, working in fifteen different state hospitals in North West, was assessed through the use of a self-constructed questionnaire. This research concluded that the majority of the nursing personnel do not have sufficient knowledge regarding hearing health care and HIV/AIDS within the pediatric population. The assumption can thus be made that these children don’t get sufficient and effective intervention services and this will effect their development as well as quality of life negatively. Furthermore, respondents appeared not to have fully realized the importance of their role as health workers within the audiological context. The nursing personnel identified a need for information regarding the audiological manifestations of HIV/AIDS in the pediatric population and there appears to be a specific role for the audiologist in training the nurses regarding this above mentioned issue. This study emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention of hearing disorders in children, especially children with HIV, within South Africa and indicates the need for further research with regards to this population. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Newborn hearing screening has become an increasingly important element of neonatal care in developed countries whilst only a few fragmented screening programmes are evident in developing countries. The numerous socio-economic, cultural and healthcare barriers in developing contexts do not, however, negate or diminish the need to ensure optimal outcomes for infants with hearing loss through early identification and intervention programmes. South Africa has taken a first step toward addressing this need by publishing a Year 2002 Hearing Screening Position Statement that was produced by the Professional Board for Speech, Language and Hearing Professions of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Interim recommendations are made toward universal newborn hearing screening programmes in three contexts: well-baby nurseries,; neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) clinics through their 6-week immunisation programmes. Although these clinics constitute an unfamiliar hearing screening context, they are essential platforms toward widespread screening of the majority of infants in South Africa. An urgent need therefore exists to ascertain the feasibility of hearing screening programmes at MCH 6-week immunisation clinics in order to guide the future implementation of widespread hearing screening services in South Africa. To attend to this need, an exploratory descriptive design that jointly implements quantitative and qualitative methods in a dominant-less-dominant model of triangulation was utilised to critically describe a screening programme conducted at two MCH clinics in Hammanskraal (a developing, peri-urban South African community). The quantitative methods included a structured interview to compile biographical and risk information; high frequency immittance measurements; hearing screening with OAE and AABR according to specified protocols, and diagnostic assessment of referred infants. The qualitative methods included field notes and critical reflections describing clinics as screening contexts and elucidating interactional processes involved in sustaining programmes. A total number of 510 infant-caregiver pairs were enrolled as subjects during the five-month research period. Results indicate that clinics not only provide a suitable context, but also the possibility of effective collaborations toward facilitating effective initial infant hearing screening programmes. The caregivers and infants who attended the clinics demonstrated significant degrees of socio-economic deprivation. They also reported an increased incidence of risk indicators exacerbating the population’s risk for congenital hearing loss, poor participation in the hearing screening/follow-up process, and subsequent poor involvement in a family-centred early intervention process for infants identified with hearing loss. The screening protocol effectively classified infants into risk categories for hearing loss and established useful norms for high frequency immittance in infants. The efficiency of the programme was acceptable considering the short period of implementation, but inefficient coverage with the AABR and poor follow-up return rates were obtained at the clinics. Despite prevailing barriers, the MCH 6-week immunisation clinics showed promise as platforms for widespread hearing screening programmes for infants in South Africa. The clinical implications and recommendations that emerged from the research conducted in this study were compiled and presented in the form of a preliminary service delivery model for infant hearing screening at MCH clinics. / Thesis (DPhil (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Electrophysiological measures such as impedance telemetry and Neural Response Telemetry (NRT™) were developed by Cochlear™ in 1992 as clinical tools allowing the objective setting of stimulus levels for cochlear implant users. Extensive research proved the usefulness of NRT™’s as an aid in the programming process of audible and comfortable stimulus levels for children younger than six years. The Nucleus® Freedom™, launched in 2005, introduced new developments in cochlear implantation. Approval from the FDA for this system was obtained in March 2005 and for the first time included children from age 12 months with profound hearing loss. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing suggested that children be diagnosed and that treatment commenced by the age of six months. The new features of the Nucleus Freedom™ give clinicians the necessary tools to treat this challenging population. An urgent need exists to ascertain the stability and accuracy of the new features introduced by this system, especially the Auto-NRT™ software, to validate its use within the paediatric population. A longitudinal descriptive design was utilized implementing quantitative research methods to critically describe the behaviour of impedance telemetry and NRT™’s in a group of young cochlear implant users. The quantitative method included the application of the Custom Sound™ software and the Auto-NRT™ feature for this group at implantation, device activation, and then at determined follow-up visits. Nine young children between nine months and five years and eleven months were used as participants during the twelve months of research. Impedance telemetry was described in terms of the mean Common Ground (CG) and Monopolar 1+2 (MP1+2) values calculated from measurement data collected on the basal, medial, and apical electrodes of the electrode array. The electrodes identified for statistical procedures for both measurement types were E3, E6, E8, E11, E13, E16, E19 and E21. Friedman’s ANOVA was used as a statistical measure to determine the level of significance in changes among the measurement modes and conditions. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was indicated in the presence of significant changes identified by Friedman’s ANOVA to calculate the level of significance in a pair-wise comparison. Results indicate that impedance telemetry remained consistent over the electrode array and over time in both measurement modes. A slight increase in mean values was observed during the first three months, followed by a gradual decrease at the six months interval. These changes were statistically nonsignificant. No specific trends were evident in impedance telemetry over time. NRT™-measurements remained consistent across the electrode array over time. Significant changes were present between the intra-operative to device activation measurement intervals. This trend is also described in studies of adult cochlear implant users. NRT™-measurements were stable during the first year postimplantation within the paediatric population. A comparison between the mean impedance telemetry and NRT™’s disclosed an inverse trend during the first six months post-implantation. Most changes were non-significant, indicating that these measures can be used effectively in the new semi-automated fitting software. The implementation of these measurements can lead to streamlined and accountable service delivery to young cochlear implant users. AFRIKAANS : In 1992 is elektrofisiologiese metings soos impedanstelemetrie en Neurale Respons Telemetrie (NRT™) deur Cochlear™ ontwikkel as kliniese hulpmiddels om objektiewe instelling van stimulasievlakke vir kogleêre gebruikers moontlik te maak. Navorsing het bewys dat NRT™’s ‘n effektiewe hulpmiddel is tydens programmering van hoorbare en gemaklike stimulasievlakke by kinders jonger as ses jaar. Die Nucleus® Freedom™ met nuwe ontwikkelings ten opsigte van kogleêre inplantings is in 2005 bekendgestel. Die FDA het in Maart 2005 hierdie sisteem goedgekeur vir gebruik by kinders selfs so jonk as 12 maande met uitermatige gehoorverlies. Die Joint Committee on Infant Hearing het voorgestel dat diagnose en aanvang van rehabilitasie teen ses maande ouderdom moet plaasvind. Die nuwe funksies van die Nucleus® Freedom™ stel oudioloë in staat om hierdie uitdagende bevolking te hanteer. ‘n Dringende behoefte bestaan om te bepaal of hierdie sagteware, veral Auto-NRT™ wat saam met hierdie sisteem bekendgestel is, oor voldoende akkuraatheid en stabiliteit beskik om in die hantering van die pediatriese bevolking te gebruik. ‘n Longitudinale, beskrywende ontwerp, wat kwantitatiewe metodes implementeer, is aangewend om die beweging van impedanstelemetrie en NRT™’s by ‘n groep jong gebruikers van kogleêre inplantings krities te beskryf. Dit het die gebruik van die Custom Sound™ sagteware en die ingeslote Auto- NRT™ funksie behels. Dit is tydens inplantering, by aktivering van die toestel, en bepaalde opvolgsessies uitgevoer. Nege jong kinders tussen die ouderdomme van nege maande en vyf jaar en 11 maande is tydens die 12 maande navorsingsperiode as proefpersone benut. Die impedansmetings is beskryf in terme van die Common Ground (CG) en Monopolar 1+2 (MP1+2) stimulasiemodaliteite. Data is verkry vanaf geselekteerde elektrodes op die basale, mediale en apikale gedeeltes van die elektrode. Vir statistiese ontledings van impedans en NRT™ is hierdie elektrodes geselekteer: E3, E6, E8, E11, E13 E16, E19 en E21. As statistiese ontledingsmetode, is Friedman se ANOVA toegepas om die vlakke van beduidenheid van beweging tussen die verskillende toetsmodaliteite en -omstandighede te bepaal. Die Wilcoxon signed-rank toets is aangedui in die teenwoordigheid van statisties beduidende veranderinge. Die doel van hierdie toets was om die vlak van beduidenheid paarsgewys te verifieer. Resultate dui op konstante impedansmetings oor die elektrode asook oor tyd in beide toetsmodaliteite. ‘n Geringe, statisties nie-beduidende, verhoging in gemiddelde waardes is waargeneem tydens die eerste drie maande na inplantering, waarna die waardes weer geleidelik afgeneem het tot en met die ses maande opvolginterval. Geen spesifieke neiging kon vir impedanstelemetrie bepaal word nie. NRT™-metings het konstant gebly oor die elektrode en met tyd. Statisties beduidende veranderinge is gemeet tussen die intra-operatiewe en aktiveringsintervalle. Hierdie neiging is ook beskryf in studies van volwasse gebruikers van kogleêre inplantings. NRT™-metings, binne die pediatriese populasie, het dus stabiel gebly oor die 12 maande periode post-inplantering. ‘n Vergelyking tussen die gemiddelde impedans- en NRT™-metings het ‘n inverse neiging geïdentifiseer gedurende die eerste ses maande na inplantering. Veranderinge was oor die algemeen statisties nie-beduidend, wat daarop dui dat hierdie metings effektief gebruik kan word. Die implementering van hierdie metings kan meer doeltreffende dienslewering aan die jong gebruikers van kogleêre inplantings tot gevolg hê. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

South Africa has a dearth of deaf appropriate assistive resources – giving rise to deaf adolescents leaving school early and poor adult outcomes. These factors are negatively influenced by the interaction of other elements such as the inadequate cultural and social nurturing and lack of support. Approached from a bio-ecological model, to pro-actively address the support needed by deaf and hard-of-hearing persons to empower them to develop the capacity to withstand the challenges they have to endure, to stand up to and resist the negative ideas about what they are capable of. In this study, major risk factors were identified as communication deprivation and unpreparedness of parents to raise a deaf child appropriately where mediating factors were identified as social-emotional competence and deaf teaching assistants at South African Schools for the Deaf. The main findings of this study were that the need for early training of parents, access to Sign Language, deaf role models and social-emotional training in SA schools for the Deaf are proposed pathways to well-being. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)