title: Symbolic Play and Novel Noun Learning in Deaf and Hearing Children: Longitudinal Effects of Access to Sound on Early Precursors of Language.
abstract: In the largest, longitudinal study of young, deaf children before and three years after cochlear implantation, we compared symbolic play and novel noun learning to age-matched hearing peers. Participants were 180 children from six cochlear implant centers and 96 hearing children. Symbolic play was measured during five minutes of videotaped, structured solitary play. Play was coded as "symbolic" if the child used substitution (e.g., a wooden block as a bed). Novel noun learning was measured in 10 trials using a novel object and a distractor. Cochlear implant vs. normal hearing children were delayed in their use of symbolic play, however, those implanted before vs. after age two performed significantly better. Children with cochlear implants were also delayed in novel noun learning (median delay 1.54 years), with minimal evidence of catch-up growth. Quality of parent-child interactions was positively related to performance on the novel noun learning, but not symbolic play task. Early implantation was beneficial for both achievement of symbolic play and novel noun learning. Further, maternal sensitivity and linguistic stimulation by parents positively affected noun learning skills, although children with cochlear implants still lagged in comparison to hearing peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Quittner
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center, Miami, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ivette
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cejas
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nae-Yuh
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Niparko
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning; D008037:Linguistics; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013016:Sound