Research has shown that delayed cochlear implantation in children can lead to a delay in speech and language development, meaning that the child is behind in terms of speech and language compared to normal hearing counterparts. Last month, Science Daily wrote an article discussing the findings of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) regarding surgery timing of cochlear implantation in children with hearing loss.
The study followed 188 children with profound hearing loss who were implanted with cochlear implants at 6 hospitals in the states. The children were aged 6 months to 5 years. Their speech and language development was followed and compared to same-aged children with normal hearing.
The study found that although all children showed speech and language improvement following the cochlear implant, children who were implanted before 18 months of age showed more benefit and caught up within the next 3 years with the normal group. "But those who received an implant after they turned 18 months and before they were 3, reached that milestone 15 months later than children who received an implant before age 18 months" (Science Daily).
Other relevant factors that the researchers found included the importance of parents or caregivers communicating and interacting with children from the moment they are born regardless of any hearing loss. This is highly encouraged in clinical practice.
Read the entire article on Science Daily.
Image Credit: Medical illustrations by NIH, Medical Arts & Photography Branch.
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