Bilingual oral language proficiency in children with cochlear implants

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric audiology
• Speech-language pathology

Background:

• Prelingual deafness presents significant challenges to oral language development.
• Bilingualism in deaf children requires specific assessment of both languages.
• Cochlear implantation is a key intervention for restoring hearing in deaf individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess oral language proficiency in prelingually deaf children using cochlear implants.
• To document the development of first and second language skills in this population.

Main Methods:

• A repeated-measures design evaluated oral language skills at two yearly intervals post-implantation.
• Participants included twelve prelingually deaf children who received cochlear implants before age three.
• Standardized tests (Oral and Written Language Scales, Reynell Developmental Language Scales, Student Oral Language Observation Matrix) were used for assessment.

Main Results:

• First language standard scores were within the average range compared to normal-hearing peers.
• Second language skills demonstrated consistent improvement from year 1 to year 2.
• Improvement in second language was correlated with exposure intensity and implant experience.

Conclusions:

• Cochlear implants can facilitate oral language acquisition in multiple languages for prelingually deaf children.
• This study highlights the potential for bilingualism in deaf children with cochlear implants.