Auditory and language development in children with bilateral cochlear implants (CI) – a multicentric, retrospective longitudinal analysis

Introduction All test procedures for language development in CI children in the German language area have been standardized on the basis of hearing children. Currently, the hearing age (time since initial activation) is mostly used as a reference value for instead of the chronological age. Due to a large number of tested CI children, reference data for a targeted group of CI children – congenitally deaf and bilaterally fitted with CI – are attempted to be established.

Material and Methods In total, data sets of 833 children suffering from bilateral, congenital deafness or profound hearing loss, age of CI fitting ≤ 48 months (or at the time of 1st fitting ≤ 48 months) and bilateral CI at the time of testing were obtained from 6 CI centers. The maximum delay in sequential implantation ≤ 12 months. Unobtrusive nonverbal development is present. The test procedures used were the Language Development Test (SETK-2/SETK-3-5, cf. Grimm et al. Grimm 2003), the parent questionnaires (ELFRA 1 and ELFRA 2, cf. Grimm/Doil 2000), the LittleEars Audio Questionnaire (LEAQ cf. dt. Kühn-Inacker et al. 2003). All children are cared for in CI centers that are members of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft CI-Rehabilitation (acir).

Results A total of 594 data sets on SETK 2 are available based on multiple testing. The mean age of children was 1;4 year for simultaneous operations and 1;3 year for sequential operations.

Discussion Comparison norms need to be further elaborated, as the studies show that a principled assessment of hearing and language development based on hearing age is not adequate.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023