Open-Set Speech Perception Performance and Its Contributing Factors for Children Received Cochlear Implantation at Older Age

Heo, Min Jung; Jeong, Sung Wook; Ahn, Sung Woo; Boo, Sung Hyun; Kim, Lee Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the development of open-set speech perception abilities in children who received cochlear implantation at older age and to examine the preoperative variables contributing to the postoperative speech perception outcomes.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Open-set speech perception abilities were assessed with the Monosyllabic Word and Common Phrases Tests for 37 prelingually deafened children who received implantation between the ages of 7 and 17 years. Their performance was compared to that of 60 children who received implantation before 7 years of age. To identify the factors contributing to the postoperative open-set speech perception abilities, we analyzed age at hearing aid fitting, age at implantation, duration of implant use, preoperative language and speech perception abilities, and pure tone thresholds in the better ear.
RESULTS
The children who received implantation after 7 years of age significantly improved during the first year of implant use, but reached a plateau by 1.5 to 2 years after implantation, reaching scores between 60% and 70%. Children who received implantation after age 7 showed higher speech perception scores than the younger children over the first year of implant use, but showed lower scores than the younger children after 2-3 years of implant use. The variables associated with the postoperative open-set speech perception abilities were speech perception ability, language ability, and hearing levels before implantation.
CONCLUSION
Prelingually deafened children who received implantation at older age can obtain substantial open-set speech perception understanding, but tended to reach a plateau between 1.5-2 years after implantation. Speech perception, language abilities, and hearing level before implantation contribute to the outcome.