Ann E. Geers|Johanna G. Nicholas
Enduring Advantages of Early Cochlear Implantation for Spoken Language Development
Washington University in St. Louis
article authors sought determine whether precise age implantation aoi remains important predictor spoken language outcomes later childhood received cochlear implant ci 12 38 months age relative advantages receiving bilateral ci age 45 years better preciaided hearing longer ci experience also examinedsixty children participated prospective longitudinal study outcomes 45 105 years age twentynine children received sequential second ci test scores compared normative samples hearing age mates predictors outcomes identifiedstandard scores language tests 105 years age remained significantly correlated age first cochlear implantation scores associated receipt second sequentially acquired ci significantly higher scores achieved vocabulary compared overall language finding evident children tested younger agesageappropriate spoken language skills continued likely younger aoi even average 86 years additional ci use receipt second implant ages 4 10 years longer duration device use provide significant added benefit