Identification of Japanese language acquisition process and extraction of latent skill structure in children with hearing impairments

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14054
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Technology (2022-2023); International University of Health and Welfare (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: TOYAMA Minoru 東京工科大学, 医療保健学部, 准教授 (30746095)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 先天性難聴児 / ハビリテーション / 言語習得 / 文字音声法 / 聴覚障害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Predictors of syllable extraction ability, which is important for the acquisition of written language based on spoken language, were examined in 68 children with congenital hearing loss who had received the written-oral language method (Kanazawa Method) since infancy. Results indicated that three variables contributed to syllable extraction ability: written language character recognition, age, and auditory word comprehension. Early intervention for written language character recognition and auditory word comprehension is important for children with congenital hearing loss because they are more likely to delay acquisition of written language.

Free Research Field

言語聴覚療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

先天性難聴児に対しては、できるだけ早期に必要な療育を行うことによって、基本的なコミュニケーション能力と学習言語の習得を図り、将来的な社会生活や職業選択へとつなげていく必要がある。人工内耳の装用によって先天性難聴児の生活言語の習得は改善したものの、学習言語の面で困難を示す児の存在が明らかになった現在、本研究で得られた知見は先天性難聴児の言語習得支援プログラムの開発と EBP(Evidence-Based Practice)の推進に寄与し得る。