1 The Audiology Department of the University Ear Clinic, Groningen, The Netherlands, and from the Section of Audiology and Phonology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York
Natural development of speech elements in acoustically handicapped children has been proved possible provided that the limited hearing is detected at a very early age by new testing procedures. It is achieved under clinical conditions by the use of individual hearing aids which provide auditory stimulation from the age of 2 years, or even earlier, upwards. Special treatment is necessary and training of the parents plays an important part. If a listening function is not established at an early age, there is the danger that children with limited hearing will ignore sound or will actually find it annoying. Future success is dependent on the hard of hearing child's being educated together with the normal speaking children, with the reservation that he will need special arrangements for speech therapy and speech reading. New specifications should be made concerning the admission of acoustically handicapped children into special schools and the considerations mentioned above should be applied.