Delays in receptive vocabulary and verbal IQ in deaf children and adolescents

Background/Objectives: Despite participating in early intervention programs, deaf children still present language delays. The purpose of this study is to examine the performance of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children and adolescents in two language-related aspects (receptive vocabulary and verbal intelligence) in comparison to a group of normal hearing (NH) peers, regarding different age groups (preschool, childhood, and adolescence). Gender differences are also assessed. Method: A total of 123 participants (68 DHH and 55 NH) are evaluated using the verbal subtest of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT), and the Spanish version of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Results: Overall, findings suggest verbal delays in deaf children when compared to a NH group, with these differences remaining in the three age groups. Deaf girls seem to have better receptive vocabulary performance than boys. Conclusions: Delays in verbal intelligence and receptive vocabulary are present in Spanish DHH children, through preschool age to adolescence. Gender differences seem to occur, with deaf girls performing better than boys.