KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD HEARING LOSS AMONG EDUCATORS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1165006Keywords:
Hearing Loss, Early Identification, Hearing Health, Teacher TrainingAbstract
Childhood hearing loss may affect communication, language development, classroom participation, and academic progress, making educators an important group for recognising possible hearing difficulties and facilitating appropriate support. However, evidence on educators’ knowledge and awareness remains scattered across different educational settings and countries, with variation in the areas of hearing health assessed. This systematic literature review examined the level and domains of educators’ knowledge and awareness of childhood hearing loss, including understanding of early identification, access to hearing care, and professional support needs. The review followed the PRISMA framework. Advanced searches were conducted in Scopus and Web of Science using search terms related to knowledge and awareness, childhood hearing loss, and educators. The searches identified 527 records, of which 10 primary empirical studies met the final eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. Three themes were identified: (1) foundational knowledge of childhood hearing loss, covering causes, risk factors, signs, effects, prevention, and hearing technology; (2) knowledge for early identification and access to hearing care, including recognition, assessment, intervention, and referral; and (3) knowledge translation and professional capacity-building, covering training, curriculum adaptation, classroom support, and institutional resources. Across the studies, general awareness and knowledge of the effects of hearing loss were often stronger than knowledge of identification, referral, and intervention. Educational programmes improved short-term knowledge, although evidence of long-term application was limited. Greater attention to practical referral knowledge, role-specific training, and links between education and hearing-health services is needed.
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