Comparison of Nonverbal Sensitivity Between Normal Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Children of Bangladesh

Abstract

This study, with its potential to significantly impact professional practice, has compared the nonverbal sensitivity (NVS) of 6-16-year-old normal hearing (NH) children and hearing impaired (HI) children. In total, 20 children participated in this study, with two groups made, one with ten NH children and the other with ten hearing-aid-user HI children. The Face and Body-only Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (FBo-PONS) test was administered to measure NVS in both groups. The test scores were evaluated and analysed separately regarding the overall score, body-only cue score, and face-only cue score. The findings, which have direct implications for communication therapy and rehabilitation, showed lower accuracy in decoding nonverbal cues in HI than in NH children. However, in individual cue comparison, HI children scored less in body-only nonverbal cue decoding and were almost similar to NH children in face-only nonverbal cue decoding. Problems in NVS can affect communication competence, thereby influencing the ability to form interpersonal relationships. However, this essential part of communication is often less considered in communication therapy and rehabilitation.

Social Science Review, Vol. 42(1), June 2025, pp. 189-208