The role of child- and auditory-related factors on speech and language indices among cochlear-implanted children

Abstract

Objectives

Numerous factors may affect the spoken language of children with a cochlear implant (CI). The present study is aimed to detect some of the possible predictors of speech and language outcomes among Persian-speaking cochlear-implanted children

Materials and methods

A total of 211 pre-lingual deaf children who received a cochlear implant were entered in this cross-sectional study. The Persian version of Speech Intelligibility Measurement Test and Test of Language Development (TOLD: P3) were employed to determine speech and language scores. Eight probable predictors (variables) were divided into three groups: child-related, auditory-related, and environmental factors.

Results

The use of contra-lateral hearing aid only enhanced the speech intelligibility (p = .029); while having a background of speech therapy prior to CI raised the participants’ language scores (p ≤ .041). Other factors predicted all speech and language indicators (p ≤ .025).

Conclusion

Speech-language therapists (SLTs) should inform parents about the positive or negative consequences of each pre-CI factor in post-operative speech and language outcomes.

Keywords:

• Language disorder
• cochlear implant
• hearing impairment

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the children, families and agencies who took part in this study.

Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.1396.714).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This was approved by and funded by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (grant reference number: IR.UMSHA.REC.1396.714).