Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6213296 International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 2016 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

Objectives(1) To assess the long-term effects of cochlear implantation (CI) on speech perception and school life, and (2) to evaluate behavioral and emotional development, including social skills, post-implantation.MethodsWe telephoned caregivers and asked them a standardized questionnaire. We used the data to explore the daily lives (including school life) of children who had undergone CI before the age of 4 years and who had used the device for >10 years. We also evaluated behavioral/emotional development.ResultsMost children used CI devices for virtually all their waking moments and attended mainstream schools. Moreover, more than 75% of them could comprehend common phrases or conversations without lip-reading and carry out a telephone conversation with a person known to them. The mean T-scores for all scales of behavioral/emotional assessment, including those concerning social skills, were within the normal ranges, although scores on the competence scale were lower than those on other scales.ConclusionsThis long-term study of early-CI children shows that CI improves not only speech perception, but also behavioral/emotional development, including social skills.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery
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