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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Auditory, speech and language development in young children with cochlear implants compared with children with normal
Bianka Schramm1, Andrea Bohnert, Annerose Keilmann
1University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Department for ENT and Communication Disorders, Mainz, Germany. schramm@kommunikation.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Summary
Early cochlear implantation (CI) in deaf children supports auditory and language development, though individual progress varies. Early intervention offers a realistic chance for satisfactory vocabulary and speech skills for school readiness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Developmental linguistics
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Sensorineural deafness in children presents significant challenges to auditory and language acquisition.
- Cochlear implants (CI) offer a potential solution for restoring hearing in profoundly deaf individuals.
- Early intervention is crucial for optimizing developmental outcomes in children with hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the auditory and lexical development of children receiving bilateral cochlear implants (CI) early in life.
- To compare the developmental trajectories of children with CIs to those of children with normal hearing (NH).
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving five children with sensorineural deafness receiving CIs and five children with normal hearing (NH).
- Auditory and language development were assessed over 36 months post-CI activation, with regular intervals.
- Developmental assessments were conducted based on both chronological and hearing age for the CI group.
Main Results:
- Both CI and NH groups exhibited individual patterns of auditory and language development.
- Children with CIs showed different patterns in receptive and expressive vocabulary compared to NH children.
- While some CI users required more time for speech development gains, overall vocabulary increased with hearing age.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and cochlear implantation are recommended for children with sensorineural hearing loss.
- Early CI provides a realistic opportunity for developing adequate expressive and receptive vocabulary.
- These findings support the development of new diagnostic tools for assessing hearing and speech progress in implanted children.
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01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.