Long-term speech perception in children with cochlear implants [Abstract]

Abstract

Multichannel cochlear implants have been in use with children for over ten years with an acceleration, in recent years, in the number of young children being implanted. Analysis of speech perception results provides one way of measuring the success of implants in children. The desired outcomes in terms of overall benefit may be better assessed by speech production and language measures. However, in terms of the main aim of cochlear implants, it is useful to look at speech perception initially. This represents a measure of auditory ability which can be compared to normal performance and it is auditory ability that cochlear implants attempt to restore. Language and speech production depend on other factors in addition to auditory ability but it is probably a reasonable assumption that good speech perception is a prerequisite for good speech production and oral language. At the University of Melbourne, we have been able to follow the speech perception of implanted children over the long term. Analysis of results has shown that approximately 80% of implanted children of all ages achieve some understanding of openset speech in sentences (BKB sentences) with a mean score of 32% (n=38).