Specific language growth in young children using the CLARION cochlear implant.

General and specific language growth was evaluated in 10 children who had received the CLARION Multi-Strategy Cochlear Implant during the clinical trial. The mean age at implantation was 37 months, and the children were followed for 18 months thereafter. Language comprehension and use were assessed with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the Reynell Developmental Language Scales, and mean length of utterance (MLU). The mean vocabulary scores indicated a 42-month increase in 18 months. The mean language comprehension increased from 20.4 to 40.8 months, and language use increased from 21.5 to 38.1 months. The mean MLU increased from 1.8 words to 4.8 words during the test period. Results indicated the children learned language at the same rate as their hearing peers of the same language age (except for vocabulary, which was faster), but retained a language delay relative to their hearing peers of the same chronological age.