Foreign Language Acquisition in Adolescent Cochlear Implant Users

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Adolescent cochlear implant (CI) users face challenges in auditory processing due to degraded input.
• Understanding foreign language acquisition in CI users is crucial for educational support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the foreign language learning capabilities of adolescent CI users compared to normal-hearing (NH) peers.
• To investigate the impact of auditory and cognitive functioning on foreign language acquisition in CI users.

Main Methods:

• Assessed Dutch and English language skills (listening, reading, gap-fill) in adolescent CI users and NH controls.
• Administered auditory and cognitive tasks to evaluate processing abilities.

Main Results:

• CI users demonstrated comparable English reading and gap-fill skills to NH peers.
• CI users exhibited lower performance in English listening tasks compared to NH peers.
• Auditory processing deficits in CI users correlated with reduced listening skills, while cognitive functions did not.

Conclusions:

• Foreign language acquisition is feasible for adolescent CI users, particularly utilizing orthographic information.
• Degraded auditory input impacts foreign language listening skills, but reading-based skills remain comparable.
• Orthographic processing can facilitate foreign language acquisition and support listening skill development in CI users.