The relationship between parental language input and language outcomes in children with cochlear implants

This study used the LENA Digital Language Processor to look at parental input as a possible factor affecting language performance variability in children with cochlear implants. Eight children between the ages of 2 and 6 with cochlear implants wore the LENA DLP for one full day while engaging in typ...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Grieb, Melinda Jean
Other Authors: Tomblin, J. Bruce
Format: Others
Language:English
Published: University of Iowa 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/508
https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1693&context=etd
Description
Summary:This study used the LENA Digital Language Processor to look at parental input as a possible factor affecting language performance variability in children with cochlear implants. Eight children between the ages of 2 and 6 with cochlear implants wore the LENA DLP for one full day while engaging in typical family activities. Adult word counts, child word counts, and number of conversational turns were compared to the child's Preschool Language Scales 3rd Edition scores and to LENA data from normal hearing children. It was found that parents of children with cochlear implants talk in a similar fashion to parents of normal hearing children in regards to amount of speech. The children, however, were significantly above agerage on word counts, while being significantly below average on PLS 3 scores. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.