[Analysis of the changes of Mandarin-tone recognition in pre-lingual deaf children of lower ages with cochlear implant].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the changing features of mandarin-tone recognition in lower prelingual children with cochlear implant after mapping.


METHODS
Twenty-nine children with CI were registered in this test, who were divided into two groups according to the age received the operation. They were group A whose ages were 3 to 4.5 years old, and group B whose ages were 5.0 to 6.5 years old. The time after first mapping was between 1.5 and -2.0 years. The test only included close-set phonetic recognition which was mainly used to evaluate Mandarin-tone recognition. The Phonetic Recognition List was used as the test material.


RESULTS
The results showed that the percentages of correct recognition were same-single-syllable tones average (63.00+/-16.75)%; bi-syllable tones average (75. 60+/-11.18)%; single-character words average (72.38+/-11.39)% in A group children and respectively, (49.46+/-13.91)%; (64.71+/-9.64)%; (55.71+/-8.59)% in B group children. The recognition scores exceeded chance level in all results and they were better in A group. Statistical analysis(t test) showed significant difference between two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The age is one of the most influence factors about Mandarin-tone recognition after implanting in pre-lingual children with CI. It is another important factor to influence studying Chinese after operation in the children.
Liu
Yongzhi
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Cao
Keli
K
Wei
Chaogang
C
Luan
Lan
L
Li
Huan
H
D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests