title: [Deviant language development following cochlear implantation? Applicability of the parent questionnaire ELFRA-2].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The parent questionnaire ELFRA-2 is considered a valid tool for early detection of delayed language development in 2-year-old children. Applicability for children treated with cochlear implants (CI) is to be investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  By means of the ELFRA-2 we documented longitudinally for up to 24 months post implantation language development in 27 children treated before 3 years of age. The critical developmental criteria (related to age) were applied to CI children (related to duration of CI use) and gender-related normative data were taken as a reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only two boys were identified as showing a language delay after 2 years of CI use. However, using normative data 11-44% of the children performed below average. Development in girls was faster than in boys. The influence of preoperative hearing experience declined over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The critical developmental criteria of ELFRA-2 have proved to be unreliable for the identification of varying development after CI. Modified and gender-related evaluation is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster. Karen.Reichmuth@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reichmuth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nickisch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matulat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elixmann-Mittler
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voigtmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Döring
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stollenwerk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesinski-Schiedat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von der Haar-Heise
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knief
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014825:Vocabulary