Ona Bø Wie|Janne von Koss Torkildsen|Stefan K. Schauber|Tobias Busch|Ruth Y. Litovsky
Long-Term Language Development in Children With Early Simultaneous Bilateral Cochlear Implants
University of Oslo|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|University of Wisconsin–Madison
longitudinal study followed language development children received combination early 5 18 months simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants cis throughout first 6 years implantation examined trajectories language development identified factors associated language outcomesparticipants 21 norwegian children received bilateral cis ages 5 18 mo 21 children normal hearing nh matched children cis age sex maternal education language skills two groups compared 10 time points 3 6 9 12 18 24 36 48 60 72 months implantation using parent reports standardized measures general language skills vocabulary grammar addition assessments made effects age ci activation speech recognition abilities mothers education language outcomes 6 years implantationduring first 4 years implantation gap general expressive receptive language abilities children cis children nh gradually closed initial five six assessments 3 36 months implantation significant differences children cis children nh observed 4 years implantation longer significant group differences general language skills children cis achieved scores within 1 sd tests normative means 2 3 years implantation onward expressive vocabulary receptive grammar skills children cis similar reference group however 4 years implantation end observation period 6 years implantation expressive grammar skills children cis lower children nh addition gap receptive vocabulary appeared grew increasingly larger 4 6 years postimplantation final assessment children cis average receptive vocabulary score around 1 sd normative mean regression analysis indicated childrens language outcomes 6 years implantation related speech recognition skills age ci activation maternal educationin first 4 years implantation language performance children cis became increasingly similar nh peers however 4 6 years implantation indications challenges certain aspects language specifically receptive vocabulary expressive grammar challenges first appeared 4year assessment findings underline importance longterm language intervention increase chances continued language development comparable nh peers also indicate need comprehensive longitudinal studies language development children cis beyond 4 years implantation