Presenting and evaluating model of language development effects on social functions of children with hearing impairment

Permanent childhood hearing impairment often results in speech and language problems that are already apparent in early childhood. Past studies show a clear link between language skills and the child’s social functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the level of language development on social functions in children with hearing impairment.
Test of Language Development(TOLD-3) and Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters(MESSY) were used for evaluating language development and social behaviors of 120 children with hearing impairment in Shiraz, Iran. Structural equation model was used to analyze the data in Amos Graphic-18.
level of language development had direct significant effect on social behaviors and 35 percent variance in social behaviors was predicted by language development.
language development is the important factor in social functions in children with hearing impairment.