Speech-perception performance in prelingually deafened French children using the nucleus multichannel cochlear implant
Uziel, A.S.; Reuillard-Artieres, F.; Sillon, M.; Vieu, A.; Mondain, M.; Piron, J.P.; Tobey, E.A.
American Journal of Otology 17(4): 559-568
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0192-9763 PMID: 8841701 Document Number: 457464
Purpose: The speech-perception abilities of 36 French children, whose onset of deafness occurred before 2 years of age, was longitudinally examined after they received a Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant. Methods: Speech perception was assessed in four areas: phoneme detection, closed-set word and sentence recognition; and modified open-set recognition. Results: All children achieved phoneme detection by 3 months after implantation. Closed-set word and sentence recognition appeared initially less accurate in children with congenital deafness than in the prelingually deafened children; however, these differences disappeared by 18 months after implantation. Some modified open-set recognition was evident by 12 months after implantation and continued to improve 3 years after implantation. Conclusions: Data demonstrate significant improvements in speech perception with implant experience: 15 (60%) of 25 of the children identified sentences in closed sets, 22 (88%) of 25 identified words in closed sets after 12 months' experience, and 13 (81%) of 16 demonstrated open-set recognition after 24 months of implant use.