Factors Associated with Speech-Recognition Performance in School-Aged Children with Cochlear Implants and Early Auditory-Verbal Intervention

Jace Wolfe; Mickael Deroche; Sara Neumann; Lindsay Hanna; Will Towler; Caleb Wilson; Alexander G. Bien; Sharon Miller; Erin C. Schafer; Vincent Gracco

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1730413

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Table of Contents

J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32(07): 433-444
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730413

Research Article

Factors Associated with Speech-Recognition Performance in School-Aged Children with Cochlear Implants and Early Auditory-Verbal Intervention

Authors

Jace Wolfe

¹Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mickael Deroche

²Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Sara Neumann

¹Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Lindsay Hanna

¹Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Will Towler

¹Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Caleb Wilson

³University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Alexander G. Bien

⁴Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sharon Miller

⁵Department of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Erin C. Schafer

⁵Department of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Vincent Gracco

⁶Haskins Laboratories, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

⁷School of Communication Sciences & Disorders McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Abstract

Background Considerable variability exists in the speech recognition abilities achieved by children with cochlear implants (CIs) due to varying demographic and performance variables including language abilities.

Purpose This article examines the factors associated with speech recognition performance of school-aged children with CIs who were grouped by language ability.

Research Design This is a single-center cross-sectional study with repeated measures for subjects across two language groups.

Study Sample Participants included two groups of school-aged children, ages 7 to 17 years, who received unilateral or bilateral CIs by 4 years of age. The High Language group (N = 26) had age-appropriate spoken-language abilities, and the Low Language group (N = 24) had delays in their spoken-language abilities.

Data Collection and Analysis Group comparisons were conducted to examine the impact of demographic characteristics on word recognition in quiet and sentence recognition in quiet and noise.

Results Speech recognition in quiet and noise was significantly poorer in the Low Language compared with the High Language group. Greater hours of implant use and better adherence to auditory-verbal (AV) therapy appointments were associated with higher speech recognition in quiet and noise.

Conclusion To ensure maximal speech recognition in children with low-language outcomes, professionals should develop strategies to ensure that families support full-time CI use and have the means to consistently attend AV appointments.

Keywords

cochlear implant - children - speech perception - data logging

Full Text

References

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