RESUMO
The primary goal of the study was to assess the progress achieved across different implant age groups (0-2 years, 2.1-4 years and 4.1-6 years) using a comprehensive test battery approach targeting areas such as Audition, Speech Perception, Speech Intelligibility and Speech-Language.This cross-sectional study evaluated the outcomes of 40 children who underwent cochlear implantation at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Chennai. A battery of tests included aided audiogram, Categorical Auditory Performance, Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale; Picture speech identification test in Tamil; Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale and Communication Developmental Eclectic Approach to Language Learning (COMDEALL) were administered to evaluate their auditory, speech perception, speech intelligibility and speech and language skills, respectively. The results of the study suggested that children implanted between 0 and 2 years of age demonstrated better performance in all tasks including audition, speech perception and intelligibility as well as speech and language when compared to the other two older groups. Children implanted between 0 and 2 years reached target milestones early in life similar to their hearing peers. However, children between (2.1- 4 years) also performed well and results indicated that they could catch up with intensive training. The present study reestablished the findings that early implantation (0-2 years) facilitates optimal progress when compared to implantation at later ages within the age range of 0-6 years. It also facilitates parent counseling regarding the realistic expectations with reference to different ages of implantation.
RESUMO
The study attempted to assess the closed set word identification abilities in children with cochlear implant (CI) with a picture identification test developed in Tamil. The test was validated on typically developing children with normal hearing (NH) to build a reference for comparison. Participants for the study included 205 children with NH between the age range of 3-6 years and 45 children with cochlear implant within the age range of 3-11 years. The picture identification test was developed using bisyllabic words with corresponding pictures in Tamil. Two lists were created with 25 words each and administered to the children with NH and CI. The scores of both the groups were analysed. The results indicated that the mean scores improved as age increased for children in the NH group. Also, there was no significant difference in performance between the two-word lists. Significant difference in scores was noted between the CI and the NH group (p < 0.01). However, the mean scores in the CI group increased as the experience with CI increased. The picture identification test in Tamil is deemed appropriate to elicit closed set word identification responses for children with CI between the age of 3-6 years. The test will provide supplemental information for mapping and to plan habilitation for children with CI.
