title: Sensitive periods and language in cochlear implant users.
abstract: This study explores the hypothesis that the existence of a short sensitive period for lower-level speech perception/articulation skills, and a long one for higher-level language skills, may partly explain the language outcomes of children with cochlear implants (CIs). The participants were fourteen children fitted with a CI before their second birthday. Data about their language skills and the environmental conditions (e.g. Family Involvement in rehabilitation) were obtained over a period of three years. Age at implantation correlated exclusively with the ratio of errors of place of articulation, a phonological feature for which CIs provide insufficient information. The degree of Family Involvement was significantly correlated with the remaining language measures. We conclude that small plasticity reductions affecting lower-level skills may partly explain the difficulties of some CI users in developing language.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Málaga.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno-Torres
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Murcia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madrid-Cánovas
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Pablo Andalucía CEU.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanco-Montañez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013067:Speech Perception