Hearing impairment significantly influences auditory perception and language development, often affecting communication and academic performance. This book explores how auditory deficits impact speech comprehension, language acquisition, and expressive abilities. It examines types and degrees of hearing loss and their correlation with language disabilities in children and adults. Intervention approaches, including auditory-verbal therapy and augmentative communication, are discussed. The book also highlights the importance of early diagnosis and family-centered support. Research on auditory processing and its implications for literacy is included. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, speech-language therapists, and audiologists.
Aisling O’Brien is a specialist in language development disorders linked to auditory perception deficits. Her research spans speech-language pathology, audiology, and cognitive psychology, especially in pediatric populations. She has developed assessment tools used in both clinical and educational settings for evaluating auditory processing and language comprehension. As a member of interdisciplinary teams, she advocates for integrated therapy approaches. Her focus areas include phonological processing, receptive language difficulties, and developmental hearing impairments.