Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
A case study assessing the auditory and speech development of four children implanted with cochlear implants by the
Birgit May-Mederake1, Wafaa Shehata-Dieler
1Cochlea Implantat Centrum (CIC) Süd, Berner Strasse 16, 97084 Würzburg, Germany.
Insights
Early cochlear implantation (CI) in infants under 12 months significantly benefits auditory and speech development. Children implanted early demonstrated age-appropriate language skills and performed comparably to hearing peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Severe hearing loss in children necessitates early intervention for optimal outcomes.
- Cochlear implantation (CI) is a key treatment for severe pediatric hearing loss.
- Binaural sensory stimulation may enhance auditory development in children with hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the auditory and speech development of children receiving cochlear implants (CI) before 12 months of age.
- To assess the impact of early CI on speech production, grammar, and vocabulary acquisition.
- To explore the benefits of early bilateral cochlear implantation.
Main Methods:
- Study included four children implanted with their first cochlear implant (CI) before 12 months of age.
- Auditory development assessed using German LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire, monosyllabic word tests, speech discrimination tests, and Listening Progress Profile (LiP).
- Speech and grammar development evaluated using German language speech development test (SETK), reception of grammar test (TROG-D), and active vocabulary test (AWST-R).
Main Results:
- Children achieved open-set monosyllabic word discrimination by 24 months of age.
- Listening Progress Profile (LiP) scores improved over time, with 100% word recognition in the Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic (MTP) test after 12 months.
- All participants demonstrated speech production and grammar development on par with or exceeding their hearing peers, with age-appropriate speech development noted in the SETK.
Conclusions:
- Early hearing loss intervention, particularly cochlear implantation (CI) before 12 months, significantly benefits speech and language development.
- The findings support the trend towards early cochlear implantation for improved pediatric audiological outcomes.
- Bilateral cochlear implantation may offer additional advantages for auditory rehabilitation in young children.
Abstract:
Children with severe hearing loss most likely receive the greatest benefit from a cochlear implant (CI) when implanted at less than 2 years of age. Children with a hearing loss may also benefit greater from binaural sensory stimulation. Four children who received their first CI under 12 months of age were included in this study. Effects on auditory development were determined using the German LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire, closed- and open-set monosyllabic word tests, aided free-field, the Mainzer and Göttinger speech discrimination tests, Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic (MTP), and Listening Progress Profile (LiP). Speech production and grammar development were evaluated using a German language speech development test (SETK), reception of grammar test (TROG-D) and active vocabulary test (AWST-R). The data showed that children implanted under 12 months of age reached open-set monosyllabic word discrimination at an age of 24 months. LiP results improved over time, and children recognized 100% of words in the MTP test after 12 months. All children performed as well as or better than their hearing peers in speech production and grammar development. SETK showed that the speech development of these children was in general age appropriate. The data suggests that early hearing loss intervention benefits speech and language development and supports the trend towards early cochlear implantation. Furthermore, the data emphasizes the potential benefits associated with bilateral implantation.
