Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children may experience communication delays, irrespective of early intervention and technology. Australian Sign Language (Auslan) is one approach in early intervention to address language delays. Current prevalence of Auslan use among Australian families with DHH children is unknown.
OBJECTIVE: The first aim was to determine the proportion of families enrolled in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank who use Auslan with their DHH child. The second aim was to explore the relationships between indicators of child hearing loss (bilateral or unilateral hearing loss, degree of hearing loss, and device use: hearing aids and cochlear implants), family factors (maternal education, attendance at early intervention, family history of deafness, and socio-economic disadvantage) and the family\'s reported use of Auslan.
METHODS: We analysed the enrolment data from 997 families who participated in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank between 2012 and 2021. We described the proportion of families who used Auslan with their DHH child at home. The association between indicators of child hearing loss and family factors, and the parental reports of communication approach were examined using correlation analyses.
RESULTS: Eighty-seven of 997 parents (8.7%) reported using Auslan with their DHH child. Of these, 26 (2.6%) used Auslan as their primary language. The use of Auslan at home was associated with the following indicators of child hearing loss: bilateral hearing loss, profound compared to mild hearing loss, and cochlear implant and hearing aid use compared to no device use. The family factors associated with the use of Auslan were: referral or attendance at early intervention compared to those who did not attend, and a family history of deafness compared to those with none. No association was found between maternal education and socio-economic disadvantage and the use of Auslan.
CONCLUSIONS: This Australian study found a low proportion (8.7%) of families with a DHH child who reported using Auslan. Seven child hearing loss and family factors were considered, and five were significantly associated with using Auslan at home. Children with a greater degree of hearing loss, attendance at early intervention and family history of deafness tended to use Auslan.
OBJECTIVE: The first aim was to determine the proportion of families enrolled in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank who use Auslan with their DHH child. The second aim was to explore the relationships between indicators of child hearing loss (bilateral or unilateral hearing loss, degree of hearing loss, and device use: hearing aids and cochlear implants), family factors (maternal education, attendance at early intervention, family history of deafness, and socio-economic disadvantage) and the family\'s reported use of Auslan.
METHODS: We analysed the enrolment data from 997 families who participated in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank between 2012 and 2021. We described the proportion of families who used Auslan with their DHH child at home. The association between indicators of child hearing loss and family factors, and the parental reports of communication approach were examined using correlation analyses.
RESULTS: Eighty-seven of 997 parents (8.7%) reported using Auslan with their DHH child. Of these, 26 (2.6%) used Auslan as their primary language. The use of Auslan at home was associated with the following indicators of child hearing loss: bilateral hearing loss, profound compared to mild hearing loss, and cochlear implant and hearing aid use compared to no device use. The family factors associated with the use of Auslan were: referral or attendance at early intervention compared to those who did not attend, and a family history of deafness compared to those with none. No association was found between maternal education and socio-economic disadvantage and the use of Auslan.
CONCLUSIONS: This Australian study found a low proportion (8.7%) of families with a DHH child who reported using Auslan. Seven child hearing loss and family factors were considered, and five were significantly associated with using Auslan at home. Children with a greater degree of hearing loss, attendance at early intervention and family history of deafness tended to use Auslan.
摘要：
背景：耳聋和听力困难（DHH）儿童可能会遇到沟通延迟，不管早期干预和技术。澳大利亚手语（Auslan）是早期干预解决语言延迟的一种方法。目前尚不清楚澳大利亚有DHH儿童的家庭中使用Auslan的患病率。
目的：第一个目的是确定在澳大利亚全州听力损失数据库中注册的家庭中使用Auslan和DHH孩子的比例。第二个目的是探索儿童听力损失指标之间的关系（双侧或单侧听力损失，听力损失程度,和设备使用：助听器和人工耳蜗），家庭因素(孕产妇教育，出席早期干预，耳聋家族史,和社会经济劣势)和家庭报告使用Auslan。
方法：我们分析了2012年至2021年间参与澳大利亚全州听力损失数据库的997个家庭的登记数据。我们描述了在家中使用Auslan和DHH孩子的家庭比例。儿童听力损失指标与家庭因素之间的关联，并使用相关性分析检查了父母对沟通方式的报告。
结果：997名父母中有87名（8.7％）报告说他们的DHH孩子使用Auslan。其中,26（2.6％）使用Auslan作为主要语言。在家中使用Auslan与以下儿童听力损失指标相关：双侧听力损失，与轻度听力损失相比，与人工耳蜗和助听器使用相比，没有设备使用。与使用Auslan相关的家庭因素是：与未参加的人相比，转诊或参加早期干预，和没有耳聋的家族史。在产妇教育和社会经济劣势与使用Auslan之间没有发现关联。
结论：这项澳大利亚研究发现，有DHH儿童的家庭报告使用Auslan的比例较低（8.7％）。考虑了七个儿童听力损失和家庭因素，5例与在家使用Auslan有显著关联。听力损失程度较高的儿童，早期干预和耳聋家族史倾向于使用Auslan。
目的：第一个目的是确定在澳大利亚全州听力损失数据库中注册的家庭中使用Auslan和DHH孩子的比例。第二个目的是探索儿童听力损失指标之间的关系（双侧或单侧听力损失，听力损失程度,和设备使用：助听器和人工耳蜗），家庭因素(孕产妇教育，出席早期干预，耳聋家族史,和社会经济劣势)和家庭报告使用Auslan。
方法：我们分析了2012年至2021年间参与澳大利亚全州听力损失数据库的997个家庭的登记数据。我们描述了在家中使用Auslan和DHH孩子的家庭比例。儿童听力损失指标与家庭因素之间的关联，并使用相关性分析检查了父母对沟通方式的报告。
结果：997名父母中有87名（8.7％）报告说他们的DHH孩子使用Auslan。其中,26（2.6％）使用Auslan作为主要语言。在家中使用Auslan与以下儿童听力损失指标相关：双侧听力损失，与轻度听力损失相比，与人工耳蜗和助听器使用相比，没有设备使用。与使用Auslan相关的家庭因素是：与未参加的人相比，转诊或参加早期干预，和没有耳聋的家族史。在产妇教育和社会经济劣势与使用Auslan之间没有发现关联。
结论：这项澳大利亚研究发现，有DHH儿童的家庭报告使用Auslan的比例较低（8.7％）。考虑了七个儿童听力损失和家庭因素，5例与在家使用Auslan有显著关联。听力损失程度较高的儿童，早期干预和耳聋家族史倾向于使用Auslan。
