Researchers Discover Connection Between Early Vocabulary and Later Language Skills in Children with Cochlear Implants
A study from the University of Miami reveals findings that could enhance language development strategies for children with hearing impairments, specifically targeting those using cochlear implants. These devices are surgically placed to assist with hearing, aiding kids in overcoming early language development hurdles.
Led by researchers Lynn K. Perry and Daniel S. Messinger from the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, along with Ivette Cejas from the Miller School of Medicine, the study examines how early vocabulary impacts long-term language growth in children with cochlear implants.
The focus of the research was on the proportion of shape-based nouns within children’s initial vocabularies. These nouns, such as “chair” and “cup,” categorize objects based on their shape rather than other features like color or material.
Published in Developmental Science, the study indicates that a higher percentage of shape-based nouns right after cochlear implantation correlates with improved language skills over the following three years.
Moreover, the researchers discovered that this correlation between shape-based nouns and language development was more pronounced in children with cochlear implants than in children with typical hearing. These findings are significant for supporting children with hearing loss in overcoming early language delays that arise from limited auditory exposure and lack of access to speech before implantation.
“Learning more shape-based nouns appeared to improve not only their vocabulary size but also their grammar and other language-related skills,” stated Perry, the lead author and an associate professor in Psychology. “Especially for those with cochlear implants, the impact was so significant that even three years later, we could attribute some variance in their language abilities to it.”
The data for this research was gathered from the Childhood Development after Cochlear Implantation Study, which spans multiple locations. This longitudinal research tracked the language skills of young cochlear implant recipients prior to surgery and evaluated them every six months post-implantation. Children with normal hearing from preschools were also included for comparison.
The research, backed by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at the NIH, revealed that children who incorporated more shape-based nouns shortly after receiving cochlear implants exhibited larger vocabularies one, two, and three years later. They also performed better on standardized language assessments and were more likely to close the language gap with their hearing peers.
Previous research has underscored the significance of shape-based nouns in the language progress of children with normal hearing, indicating that recognizing this type of vocabulary can aid in acquiring new words. However, before this study, the specific role of shape-based nouns in children using cochlear implants was less understood.
“This observation serves as a natural experiment demonstrating that the words a child learns influence their language progression,” remarked Messinger, a professor in Psychology. “It’s notable that these impacts were greatest among cochlear implant users, possibly because shape-based nouns assist them in learning once they gain auditory access through the implants.”
The study suggests that familiarizing children with shape-based nouns could enhance their language learning and help address initial language delays associated with cochlear implants.
“Although cochlear implants are now the standard treatment for children suffering from severe to profound bilateral hearing loss, there is still considerable variability in their speech development,” explained Cejas, a professor and the family support services director at the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology. “Our findings point toward a potential intervention strategy that could help bridge the vocabulary gap evident in some of these children.”
While the study indicates a connection between the early presence of shape-based nouns in a child’s vocabulary and subsequent language development, the researchers emphasized the need for further studies to clarify any causal relationships.
Additionally, they expressed uncertainty about why certain children had a greater number of shape-based nouns in their vocabularies than others.
“Within both the cohort of children with cochlear implants and among children generally, we observe variances in their early vocabulary acquisition,” Perry mentioned. “Understanding the origins of these differences is critical for optimizing support for all learners.”
