engleski

Potential of working memory for explaining high variability in the language outcomes of pediatric cochlear implant users

Although cochlear implants have become a standard option for children with severe hearing impairment, the language outcomes of these children are highly variable. No clear reasons for such variability have been identified so far. Recent research has focused on explaining it using cognitive factors, more specifically working memory, which has been reported to be functionally different in children with cochlear implants, when compared to hearing peers. Objectives and methods: The aim of this pilot study was to examine relationship between verbal (digit span) and nonverbal (Corsi block test) working memory with receptive language measures (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, PPVT-III-HR and Test for Reception of Grammar, TROG-2:HR) in 10 orally habilitated and educated school-aged deaf children without additional difficulties, implanted by the age of 4. This relationship was examined by employing cluster analysis, and the obtained clusters were further analyzed by means of relevant personal, technical, and habilitation factors. Results: The results of this pilot study indicate that participants with better working memory scores had better scores on receptive language tests. Further analysis revealed that these were participants who received CI earlier and who had better hearing thresholds after implantation. Conclusions: These results show us that variables of working memory with relevant personal, technical, and habilitation factors have potential to serve as a model for explaining high variability in the language outcomes of pediatric cochlear implants users, and that further more extensive research in this area was needed and justified.

cochlear implants ; receptive language ; verbal and non-verbal working memory

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