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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Speech development after cochlear implantation in children from bilingual homes
Melanie Teschendorf1, Sandra Janeschik, Heike Bagus
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Essen, Germany. melanie.teschendorf@uk-essen.de
Summary
Bilingual children with cochlear implants may have delayed spoken German skills, but advanced language acquisition is possible with parental support. Special interventions are recommended for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Speech-language pathology
- Bilingualism research
Background:
- Cochlear implantation (CI) is a crucial intervention for profound hearing loss.
- The impact of bilingualism on CI outcomes in children requires further investigation.
- Understanding language development in children with migration backgrounds is essential for tailored support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if second language exposure in bilingual families affects spoken German skills post-CI.
- To assess the prevalence of bilingualism among children with migration backgrounds undergoing CI.
- To identify factors influencing language development in pediatric CI recipients from bilingual homes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case review of 93 profoundly hearing-impaired children who underwent CI before age 6.
- Comparison of speech and language skills between children from bilingual (n=52) and monolingual (n=41) homes.
- Assessment using standard speech perception, receptive, and expressive language measures; language use data collected via questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Children from bilingual homes generally showed poorer performance in speech tests compared to monolingual peers.
- Most bilingual children identified German as their primary language, with limited active use of the second language.
- A subset of bilingual children achieved high German proficiency and developed a second spoken language.
Conclusions:
- While advanced bilingual language skills are achievable post-CI, they are exceptional rather than typical.
- Parental German language proficiency, family integration, and rehabilitation compliance are critical factors.
- Children with CI from bilingual backgrounds necessitate specialized support strategies.
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