Hearing and Oral Language Skill Development in Children with Unilateral and Simultaneous Bilateral Cochlear Implants in the First Year of Device Use - Abstract
This longitudinal study aimed to verify the advantages of simultaneous bilateral stimulation for the development of hearing and oral language skills over unilateral stimulation in children using cochlear implants, in the first year of electronic device use. The study included twenty children divided into two matched groups (n=10): children using unilateral cochlear implant (UCI), and those using simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant (BCI). The IT-MAIS or MAIS and MUSS questionnaires were used for evaluated language and auditory performance at three, six, and twelve months after activation of the electrodes. A gradual increase in auditory speech perception and oral language development was seen over the first year of device use in both groups; however, there was no significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, in the first year of cochlear implant use, children using UCI
and those using simultaneous BCI showed similar development of auditory perception of speech and oral language.