Cochlear implant performance in a deaf child of deaf parents: a case study

Marie represents a unique case in the population of cochlear implant users, in that she is from a family of deaf individuals. Her auditory perceptual performance after 2 years of implant use is commensurate with that of other children of similar ages and durations of deafness. Although her speech production performance is also not atypical, the special circumstances in the home might cause additional delay. Studies have traditionally shown that deaf children of deaf adults exhibit superior ability in both social and academic domains when compared to deaf children of hearing parents. The cochlear implant provides yet another tool to add to the already-identified advantage extended this group by their family circumstance. It is unfortunate that these children for whom the device can offer enhanced abilities may be the very children that are denied access to it by the deaf community.