AURAL REHABILITATION OF HEARING LOSS IN ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA

The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of Ectodermal Dysplasia(ED) on an individual's listening and communication skills; and suggest a suitable habilitation regimen. A case study was conducted to determine the impact of the genetic condition and management approach required for it, at the clinical setting of College of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (CSLHS), Ziauddin University, in 2013 over a year. The subject, a 5-year old girl, diagnosed with Hypohydriotic Ectodermal Dysplasia and congenital, Profound Sensorineural Hearing loss, received the Aural-Oral approach for management of listening and communication skills, based on principles of utilizing residual hearing for understanding spoken language, and developing verbal communication skills. The child was evaluated in January 2013 through informal parent-child, clinician-child interactions, and parents were interviewed for the case-history. Communication skills were screened via checklists, observation scales, whilst a norm-referenced measure of receptive-expressive language skills (Pre-school language scale), was administered on completion of a years speech therapy. The child showed remarkable improvement in communications skills within a year, progressing from language age of 12 months to 2;6 years. The Aural-Oral Approach proved to be an effective management option in Hypohydriotic Ectodermal Dysplasia; however, it would vary depending upon severity and type of the condition.