Long-Term Developmental Progress in Each Case of a Deaf-Only Child, a Deaf-Child with Low-Birth-Weight Anamnesis, and a Deaf-Child with Newborn-Asphyxia Anamnesis Examination on the Effects of The Age at the Start of Wearing a Cochlear Implant and Intranatal High-Risk Factors

• Published in: AUDIOLOGY JAPAN Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 221 - 234
• Main Authors: Mori, Naoe, Mori, Toshiko, Kawasaki, Mika, Kuroda, Seiko, Fujimoto, Masaaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Audiological Society 30.06.2008
• ISSN: 0303-8106; 1883-7301
• DOI: 10.4295/audiology.51.221

We followed and investigated the abilities of language and intelligence in each case of a deaf-only child, deaf-child with low-birth-weight anamnesis, and deaf-child with newborn-asphyxia anamnesis. We had these children wear a H. A. or C. I. and administered preschool language-training, basically by the ‘auditory-verbal method’ for 6 years and 8 months, from the age of 2 years and 8 months to the age of 9 years and 9 months, on average. The results were as follows; 1. In the case of the deaf-only child who started wearing a C. I. at the age of 3 years and 6 months, the child was able to catch up with and exceed the language and intelligence abilities of children of similar calendar age. 2. In the case of the deaf-child with low-birth-weight anamnesis who started wearing a C. I. at the age of 3 years and 6 months, the child was able to catch up in the abilities of language and intelligence with children of the same calendar age by 8 years of age, and his developmental progress was the same as that of a normal child with low-birth-weight anamnesis. 3. In the case of the deaf-child with newborn-asphyxia anamnesis who started wearing a C. I. at the age of 8 years and 2 months, the abilities of language and intelligence remained retarded even when the child reached llyears of age, that is, 2 years and 10 months after he started wearing the C. I. 4. Therefore, we should eliminate the effects of profound severe hearing loss by prescribing C. I. early in life; furthermore, it is also important to ensure adequate total developmental training. Our results suggest that if these measures could be implemented effectively the long-lasting adverse effects of low-birth-weight and newborn asphyxia on development may be avoided.