[Parents' perceptions of their deaf children's speech, language and social outcome after cochlear implantation]

Our goal was to present results related to the speech and language skills and social well-being of 62 deaf children with cochlear implant performed at the East Danish CI Center, Gentofte County Hospital. We performed an outcome study based on parents' reports and background information.

In all, we studied 62 hard-of-hearing/deaf children operated on, switched on and fine-tuned from 1993 to 2003 in the East Danish CI center, Gentofte County Hospital.

The following parameters were found to have a significant correlation with the children's speech and language outcome: the period of time the CI had been used, educational level, parents' mode of communication. A significant correlation was also found between educational placement and communication mode at home. Sixty of the 61 children were reported to have a satisfactory or very satisfactory level of social well-being.

The children's level of social well-being is satisfactory. The period of time the CI has been used, educational placement, and the parents' mode of communication are important factors in each child's speech and linguistic development.