SPEECH-PERCEPTION BY PRELINGUALLY DEAF-CHILDREN AND POSTLINGUALLY DEAF ADULTS WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANT

We review recent data from the University of Iowa obtained from prelin gually deaf children over 3 years using feature-extraction versions of the Nucleus cochlear implant, and from postlingually deaf adults usin g the compressed-analog Ineraid, a feature-extraction version of Nucle us, and a continuous interleaved sampling version of the Clarion cochl ear implant Both adults and children were followed over a 3-year perio d. Average results are shown where each patient is represented at each point in time. Results for the children show continued improvement ov er the 3-year period, with some children obtaining maximum scores poss ible on the easier closed-set tests. Substantial improvements in audio visual enhancement were provided by the cochlear implant. Results from the adults show maximum gains within the first year of implant use, a lthough some patients show continued improvements after 2 years of imp lant use. Adults who have been deaf for several years and who receive their implant when they are older tend not to perform as well as adult s who have been deaf for only a few years or receive their implant whe n they are younger.