Language development in deaf infants following cochlear implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefits of cochlear implantation in infancy and compare them to those obtained in children implanted at a slightly older age.


METHODS
Using standard language measurement tools, including the Grammatical Analysis of Elicited Language--Presentence Level (GAEL-P) and the Reynell Developmental Language Scales, progress was documented in a child who received a cochlear implant in infancy and compared to that achieved in children implanted at older ages. A new measurement tool, the Visual Habituation Procedure, was used to document early skills and the results were compared to those obtained in normal-hearing infants.


RESULTS
By the age of 2 years the subject implanted in infancy achieved scores on the GAEL-P which were nearly equivalent to those achieved at the age of 5 1/2 years by children implanted at later ages. Age-equivalent scores on the Reynell Developmental Language Scales were achieved by the subject implanted in infancy and the ability to discriminate speech patterns was demonstrated using the Visual Habituation Procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
This report demonstrates enhanced language development in an infant who received a cochlear implant at the age of 6 months.
Miyamoto
Richard T
RT
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. rmiyamot@iupui.edu
Houston
Derek M
DM
Kirk
Karen Iler
KI
Perdew
Amy E
AE
Svirsky
Mario A
MA
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014833:Voice Quality