The effects of cochlear implant use on voice parameters.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
K I Kirk
Publications and source records attributed to K I Kirk.
Cochlear implants in children.
In recent years, the House single-electrode cochlear implant has proven to be a clinically feasible prosthesis for profoundly deaf adults. Based on these findings, the decision was made to begin implanting those children who could not benefit from hearing aids. As of August 1982, 23 profoundly deaf children (ranging in age from 3.4 to 17.5 yrs) have received the cochlear implant. The majority were deafened by meningitis. Results to date indicate that children demonstrate sound field thresholds and receive timing/intensity information comparable to that of adult implant patients. Results have been extremely encouraging, but only long-term experience will determine the ultimate benefit of the implant in children.
Adolescent↗
Speech and language results in children with a cochlear implant.
At the House Ear Institute, speech and language assessments are a regular part of the evaluation protocol for the cochlear implant clinical trials in children. The assessments are conducted preimplant and at specific postimplant intervals. Paired comparisons of the children's performance at pre- and post-implant intervals reveal significant improvements in both imitative and spontaneous speech production abilities. However, some differences between groups are noted. Children implanted at an early age demonstrate a greater number of significant improvements in speech production, while children using oral communication have better skills at all test intervals. In addition, significant improvements on three of the four receptive language measures and one of the four expressive language measures are demonstrated at the 6-mo postimplant test interval. A significant decrease in performance is noted for one receptive language measure. In a second study, the speech scores of control groups and postimplant groups of the same age (3, 4, or 5 yr) are compared. Implanted children score higher in all but one of 24 contrasts, and these differences are statistically significant in five of the comparisons.
Adolescent↗