title: Auditory and verbal memory predictors of spoken language skills in children with cochlear implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Large variability in individual spoken language outcomes remains a persistent finding in the group of children with cochlear implants (CIs), particularly in their grammatical development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we examined the extent of delay in lexical and morphosyntactic spoken language levels of children with CIs as compared to those of a normative sample of age-matched children with normal hearing. Furthermore, the predictive value of auditory and verbal memory factors in the spoken language performance of implanted children was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine profoundly deaf children with CIs were assessed using a test battery including measures of lexical, grammatical, auditory and verbal memory tests. Furthermore, child-related demographic characteristics were taken into account.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the children with CIs did not reach age-equivalent lexical and morphosyntactic language skills. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that lexical spoken language performance in children with CIs was best predicted by age at testing, phoneme perception, and auditory word closure. The morphosyntactic language outcomes of the CI group were best predicted by lexicon, auditory word closure, and auditory memory for words.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitatively good speech perception skills appear to be crucial for lexical and grammatical development in children with CIs. Furthermore, strongly developed vocabulary skills and verbal memory abilities predict morphosyntactic language skills.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: b.dehoog@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Brigitte E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: de Hoog
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hearing and Implants, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Margreet C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Langereis
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Weerdenburg
authors.affiliation: Cito, P.O. Box 1034, 6801 MG Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keuning
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Royal Dutch Kentalis, P.O. Box 7, 5270 BA Sint-Michielsgestel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knoors
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010700:Phonetics; D013060:Speech; D013067:Speech Perception; D014825:Vocabulary
keywords: Auditory skills; Children; Cochlear implantation; Lexicon; Morphosyntax; Verbal memory skills