title: [Speech and general development in children receiving early cochlear implants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After cochlear implantation, most parents expect a normal speech and general development of their child. However, it remains unclear how quickly after early cochlear implantation these children can compensate for their deficits compared to normal-hearing children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively analyzed ELFRA-1 questionnaire data from 40 children with borderline deafness or high-grade hearing loss (without other known impairments) who had undergone cochlear implantation at a university medical center before reaching 2 years of age. ELFRA-1 questionnaires were filled out parents assisted by specialists 12 months after implantation. Questions assessed the children's speech production and comprehension, as well as their use of gestures and fine motoric skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At an average hearing-age of 12 months, the children achieved normal values in all of the subgroups that were comparable to those of 12-month-old children without hearing impairments. A significant correlation (p = 0.01) between the individual subgroups of the ELFRA-1 (speech production, speech comprehension, gestures and fine motor skills) was observed. Unilingual educated children performed significantly better overall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within 12 months of receiving a cochlear implant, all children passed the four categories of the ELFRA-1. This demonstrates a rapid compensation of deficits in speech, motor skills and gesture development by children undergoing early cochlear implantation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Uniklinik Köln, Gebäude 23, 50924, Köln, Deutschland, stefanie.mikolajczak@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikolajczak
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Streicher
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang-Roth
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome