Interventions for Multiply Handicapped Children with Cochlear Implant Two Cases with Attention Disorders with Prelingual Deafness

Abstract

Additional handicaps with deafness make interventions with cochlear implant difficult and complicated especially among prelingual deafness cases. Attention disorders are well-known risk factors for a poor language prognosis after a cochlear implant. We demonstrated two cases of prelingual deafness patients who showed marked progress in the syntamatic organization of their language skills after short-term intervention although both are combined with ADHD. Visual cues including arrows and texts are first used to focus their attention on the grammatic organization. These visual cues are also effective for better understanding of Japanese Particles (Joshi). These cues are then faded gradually during this interventional period. After 3 months of intervention, both cases can understand and use Japanese Particles even in their voice communication. Management of additional handicaps plays an important role in the intervention for multiply handicapped children with deafness.