Ear selection and pediatric cochlear implants: A preliminary examination of speech production outcomes

SummaryObjectiveThe goal of the current study was to examine whether ear selection (left versus right) for cochlear implantation results in significant differences in speech production outcomes.MethodsTen children with right-ear implants were compared to five children with left-ear implants on intelligibility of speech produced in single words, sentences, and conversation as well as on accuracy of speech sounds produced during administration of a single word articulation test and in conversational speech.ResultsThe children with right-ear implants performed significantly better than those with left-ear implants but only on the single word tasks. No significant differences were observed at the sentence or conversational speech levels.ConclusionFindings are discussed relative to the possibility that the obtained ear of implantation differences (if real) may disappear over time. Such a conclusion is quite tentative however given the small sample size in the current study. Such a limitation may also explain why no differences were obtained for the connected speech measures. Further study of ear selection outcomes is clearly indicated.