Factors associated with the development of communication modes in prelingual deaf children with cochlear implants.

Abstract

　The aim of the present study was to clarify the influence of social circumstances and medical factors on the communication modes in patients with prelingual hearing impairment having cochlear implants. Informed consent for participation in the study was obtained from 22 patients with cochlear implant who did not have multiple disabilities. These participants were divided into a hearing-dominant communication mode group (15 cases; hearing-dominant group) and a hearing plus visual communication mode group (7 cases; combined group). The differences in various medical factors and social factors were investigated between the two groups. Of the medical factors, the age at operation was lower and the hearing threshold level of cochlear implantation was lower in the hearing-dominant group than in the combined group. Of the social factors, the training time at home was significantly longer in the hearing-dominant group than in the combined group. There were no significant differences in relation to other factors, such as the education level of the parents, the working status, and the number of family members. These findings suggest that adequate selection of candidates for cochlear implant surgery and training of these patients at their own homes in addition to rehabilitation at the hospital are important for obtaining better results of cochlear implantation.