PubMed · 1998 · 285 citations · 0 references
Health ProfessionsOtolaryngologySpeech-language PathologyCochlear ImplantsPediatric AudiologyPediatric Speech-language PathologyCochlear Implant RehabilitationHearing ImpairmentHearing LossPediatric Cochlear ImplantationPediatric Cochlear ImplantsSpeech IntelligibilityChild Speech IntelligibilityCochlear Implantation In ChildrenCochlear Implants In ChildrenIntelligibility Rating ScalesPediatric Cochlear Implant AssessmentPediatric Cochlear Implant RehabilitationSpeech Intelligibility MeasurementSpontaneous Speech Assessment
The study evaluated long‑term speech intelligibility in young deaf children following cochlear implantation. Prospectively followed a large cohort of congenitally deaf children implanted before age 7 with a Nucleus multichannel device, assessing spontaneous speech annually over five years using a standardized intelligibility rating scale. Speech intelligibility improved steadily, reaching intelligible speech for most children by year 4 (85%) and achieving a median category 4 and mode category 5 by year 5, with no plateau observed over five years.
This study aimed to evaluate the long-term speech intelligibility of young deaf children after cochlear implantation.The study design was a prospective study following a large group of consecutively implanted deaf children with up to 5 years' cochlear implant use.The study was conducted at a pediatric tertiary referral center for cochlear implantation.All children in the study were congenitally deaf or deafened before 3 years of age. They each received a Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant before the age of 7 years. Eighty-four subjects were evaluated up to 5 years after cochlear implantation.Cochlear implantation followed by an intensive program of local and center-based assessment and rehabilitation was performed.A speech intelligibility rating scale evaluated the spontaneous speech of each child before and at yearly intervals for 5 years after implantation.After cochlear implantation, the difference between the speech intelligibility ratings increased significantly each year for 4 years (Mann-Whitney U-test). For the first 2 years, the average rating remained "prerecognizable words" or "unintelligible speech." It was not until the 3-year interval that the average intelligibility rating became category 3 (intelligible speech if someone concentrates and lip-reads). At the 4-year interval, 85% of children had some intelligible connected speech. This improvement continued, and at the 5-year interval, the median speech intelligibility was category 4 (intelligible speech to a listener with a little experience of deaf speech) and the mode was category 5 (intelligible speech to all listeners).Congenital and prelingually deaf children gradually develop intelligible speech that does not plateau 5 years after implantation.