Development of Script-Based Auditory Training and Preliminary Evaluation of the Training Efficacy for Young Adults with Cochlear Implants

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to develop the script-based materials for auditory training and to investigate the effects of script-based auditory training for congenitally deaf young adults with cochlear implants (CIs). Methods: A total of eight scripts were developed based on the literature review and the survey for speech-language pathologists, adults with normal hearing (NH), and adults with CIs. For validation of the materials, words and sentences of auditory training tool were examined using the four-point Likert scale by 35 adults with NH, and words and sentences below 2 point were removed and replaced from the script. For evaluating the efficacy of the training, three adults with CIs attended the auditory training individually, two times per a week for 4 weeks. Their speech recognition skills and subjective communicative satisfaction were evaluated before and after auditory training, and analyzed using a onegroup pretest and posttest design. Results: Although there were not significant increases in the speech recognition scores at the word and sentence level, there were significant increases in the overall communicative satisfaction on the results of the questionnaire. Conclusion: The current study suggests that auditory training using the script-based materials is useful in improving overall communicative satisfaction for young CI users who have limited communication skills.