Speech-perception performance in prelingually deafened French children using the nucleus multichannel cochlear implant.
OBJECTIVE
The speech-perception abilities of 36 French children, whose onset of deafness occurred before 2 years of age, was longitudinally examined after they received a Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant.


METHODS
Speech perception was assessed in four areas: phoneme detection, closed-set word and sentence recognition; and modified open-set recognition.


RESULTS
All children achieved phoneme detection by 3 months after implantation. Closed-set word and sentence recognition appeared initially less accurate in children with congenital deafness than in the prelingually deafened children; however, these differences disappeared by 18 months after implantation. Some modified open-set recognition was evident by 12 months after implantation and continued to improve 3 years after implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Data demonstrate significant improvements in speech perception with implant experience: 15 (60%) of 25 of the children identified sentences in closed sets, 22 (88%) of 25 identified words in closed sets after 12 months' experience, and 13 (81%) of 16 demonstrated open-set recognition after 24 months of implant use.
Uziel
A S
AS
Montpellier Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme, University of Montpellier, France.
Reuillard-Artieres
F
F
Sillon
M
M
Vieu
A
A
Mondain
M
M
Piron
J P
JP
Tobey
E A
EA
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception