Objective: To assess the development of hearing and language in prelingually deafened children with implanted multichannel cochlear prosthesis from the mandarin-speaking area, and to explore the basic pattern of speech recognition and language development as well as influencing factors.
Methods: Twenty-five prelingually deafened children and youths with cochlear implant participated in this study. Using "Evaluating method on hearing and speech rehabilitation in deafened children" as a test material. These materials consist of speech and environment sound discrimination, closed-set and open-set speech recognition and language development tests.
Results: All patients had the ability to hear sound and could discriminate different categorical sounds. Results indicated that the score of closed-set test exceeded the chance level. The correct recognition rate was escalating with prolonging the implanted time. Contrarily, the correct recognition rate was de-escalating as implanted age increased. Subjects having significant open-set speech recognition half year after the operation, indicated that the cochlear implant can promote prelingually deafened children to develop their speech level.
Conclusion: Once the diagnosis of profoundly sensorineural hearing loss is made, the optimal treatment of choices is cochlear implant and speech rehabilitation.