Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education Advance Access published online on April 18, 2008
The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, doi:10.1093/deafed/enn013
Evaluating Phonological Processing Skills in Children With Prelingual Deafness Who Use Cochlear Implants
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Iowa
| Abstract |
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This study investigated the phonological processing skills of 29 children with prelingual, profound hearing loss with 4 years of cochlear implant experience. Results were group matched with regard to word-reading ability and mothers educational level with the performance of 29 hearing children.
Results revealed that it is possible to obtain a valid measure of phonological processing (PP) skills in children using CIs. They could complete rhyming tasks and were able to complete sound-based tasks using standard test materials provided by a commercial test distributor. The CI children completed tasks measuring PP, but there were performance differences between the CI users and the hearing children. The process of learning phonological awareness (PA) for the children with CIs was characterized by a longer, more protracted learning phase than their counterparts with hearing. Tests of phonological memory skills indicated that when the tasks were controlled for presentation method and response modality, there were no differences between the performance of children with CIs and their counterparts with hearing. Tests of rapid naming revealed that there were no differences between rapid letter and number naming between the two groups. Results yielded a possible PP test battery for children with CI experience.
No conflicts of interest were reported. Correspondence should be sent to Linda J. Spencer, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242 (e-mail: linda-spencer{at}uiowa.edu).
Received October 19, 2007; revised February 28, 2008; accepted March 15, 2008