Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education Advance Access originally published online on May 9, 2007
The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 2007 12(3):258-268; doi:10.1093/deafed/enm007
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children With Cochlear Implants and Complex Needs: A Review of Outcome Research and Psychological Practice
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
 |
Abstract |
|---|
In recent years, the number of children receiving cochlear implants who have significant disabilities in addition to their deafness has increased substantially. However, in comparison with the extensive literature on speech, language, and communication outcomes following pediatric implantation in children without complex needs, the available literature for this special group of children is relatively sparse. This article reviews the available research on outcomes, grouping studies according to the nature of the additional disabilities and specific etiologies of deafness. The methodological problems relating to outcome research in this field are outlined, followed by some tentative conclusions drawn from the literature base while bearing these problems in mind. The remainder of the article focuses on the challenges for clinical practice, from a psychological perspective, of implanting deaf children with complex needs. Two groups of children are considered, those whose additional disabilities have been identified prior to implantation and those whose difficulties become apparent at some point afterward, sometimes many years later. A case example describing the psychological assessment of a deaf–blind child being considered for implantation is presented.
Correspondence should be sent to Lindsey C. Edwards, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom (e-mail: Edwarl{at}gosh.nhs.uk).
Received October 26, 2006; revised February 21, 2007; accepted February 26, 2007