Preparation and evaluation of SKI-HI: A parent-infant auditory training program for under 3- year -old hearing impaird children

Lack of early detection of and intervention for infants hearing loss results in a significant delay in speech and language development. So auditory rehabilitation plays an important role in improving the diminished communication ability. One of the most successful auditory training approaches is the SKI-HI parent-infant program. The purpose of this study was preparation and evaluation of Farsi-language SKI-HI program for under 3-year-old hearing impaired children. After translation and modification of the text of the program, fifteen under 3-year-old children with bilateral severe sensory hearing loss who were fitted with appropriate behind the ear hearing aids received intervention for 6 months. The levels of the auditory skills were measured pre and post intervention. Intervention Efficiency Index (IEI), Pretest Developmental Rate (PDR) and Proportional Change Index (PCI) were computed. The data indicated that there was a significant difference between means of IEI and PDR which were 0.87 and 0.31, respectively. PCI was 3.38 indicated that the children's auditory skills developed at about 2.38 times higher rate after SKI-HI intervention than they did before. PCI confidence interval showed that development in the population is 1.46 to 3.30 times higher after SKI-HI intervention (with 95% probability) the rate of auditory skills. The auditory training with Farsi-language SKI-HI parent-infant program may efficiently affect development of auditory skills of hearing impaired children.