Children with a cochlear implant: characteristics and determinants of speech recognition, speech-recognition growth rate, and speech production.

The objectives of the study were to describe the characteristics of the first 79 prelingually deaf cochlear implant users in Norway and to investigate to what degree the variation in speech recognition, speech- recognition growth rate, and speech production could be explained by the characteristics of the child, the cochlear implant, the family, and the educational setting. Data gathered longitudinally were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and growth-curve analysis. The results show that more than 50% of the variation could be explained by these characteristics. Daily user-time, non-verbal intelligence, mode of communication, length of CI experience, and educational placement had the highest effect on the outcome. The results also indicate that children educated in a bilingual approach to education have better speech perception and faster speech perception growth rate with increased focus on spoken language.