Off-campus WSU users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your WSU access ID and password, then click the "Off-campus Download" button below.
Non-WSU users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
Date of Award
Spring 4-26-2025
Thesis Access
WSU Access Only Honors Thesis
Thesis Location
Honors College Thesis
Degree Name
B.A.
Department
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Faculty Advisor
Jule Thomas
Abstract
Early intervention can have an immense impact on the develop of children who present with speech, language, and/or hearing impairments. This literature review explores the importance of early intervention practices by comparing various research articles. First, the history of early intervention is explored in a deep dive on federal laws regarding intervention practices, as well as presents potential challenges that require future research in the field. Next, studies regarding modern day hearing intervention find that children with hearing loss who receive hearing aids between the ages 3 to 6 months of age tend to develop more intelligible speech and language skills compared to their peers who receive them later. Similarly, children with speech and/or language disorders who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and receive therapy at a young age show greater social communication skills compared to children who receive similar intervention later. These findings support the critical period theory. The review also analyzes effective intervention strategies that better equip and support early interventionists such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and early child educators. Finally, different online resources such as the CDC and Early On are highlighted to guide families and practitioners on where to access information regarding early childhood intervention. This review concludes with a call for future research to support the training of professionals such as pediatricians and early childhood educators in the early detection of children with speech, language, and hearing disorders.
Recommended Citation
Lutfy, Alexa V., "The Importance of Early Intervention for Speech, Language, and Hearing Development: A Review" (2025). Honors College Theses. 92.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/honorstheses/92