Auditory skills development among children with developmental delays and cochlear implants.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to understand auditory skills outcomes in young children with cochlear implants and developmental delay.


METHODS
Children who received cochlear implants at less than 36 months of age were identified via chart review. Their postimplant auditory skills outcomes were measured with the Auditory Skills Checklist.


RESULTS
Of 35 children who received cochlear implants before the age of 36 months, 14 children (40%) had additional disabilities or some form of developmental delay. The 12-month postimplant data indicated progress in all groups of children. Children with additional disabilities had the same rate of auditory skills progress as children with no additional disabilities (beta = 9.3 versus 9.3; p = 0.5). However, the children with additional disabilities tended to start at a lower baseline skills set (approximately 6 points lower) on the Auditory Skills Checklist. For children with average developmental quotients (at least 80), the rate of progress was twice that of children with a developmental quotient of less than 80, irrespective of a developmental disability (beta = 9.9 versus 4.8; p = 0.03). Children with a developmental quotient of less than 80 were less likely to gain skills in discrimination and identification after the first postimplant year.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with additional disabilities make progress in auditory skills, but may not develop higher auditory skills of identification and comprehension within the first 6 months after implantation. Categorizing children according to a cognitive developmental quotient may provide more predictive ability than does categorizing them by disability type.
Wiley
Susan
S
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
Meinzen-Derr
Jareen
J
Choo
Daniel
D
D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors