Major findings of the LOCHI study on children at 3 years of age and implications for audiological management

Objective: This article describes the major findings of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study. Design: A population-based prospective cohort study; with randomized controlled trials of hearing aid prescription and non-linear frequency compression. Sample: 451 children in New South Wales, Victoria and Southern Queensland. Results: Significant predictors of language outcomes at 3 years of age included severity of hearing loss, gender, presence of additional disabilities, maternal education, and age at cochlear implantation. Although prescription did not have a significant effect on outcomes, its influence on loudness and hearing aid safety has implications for management. After controlling for a range of predictor variables, nonlinear frequency compression did not have a significant effect on outcomes. For the same hearing sensitivity, the presence of auditory neuropathy did not have a significant effect on outcomes. Conclusions: These findings form the basis for evidence-based guidelines for management of children with hearing loss.