Speech Development After Cochlear Implantation in Children From Bilingual Homes

Abstract

Advanced language skills including the learning of a second spoken language are possible for children with cochlear implant living in bilingual homes, but that is the exception rather than the rule. It seems that other factors, such as spoken German language skills of the parents, integration of the family, and compliance with the rehabilitation program, play an important role. Therefore, a special support for children with cochlear implants from bilingual homes is needed.

Dual language versus English‐only support for bilingual children with hearing loss who use cochlear implants and hearing aids

“…Prior to this study, some researchers found evidence for the benefits of supporting both spoken languages for bilingual children with HL (e.g., Bunta & Douglas, 2013; Guiberson, 2014), but other studies came to different conclusions in that focusing on the language of the majority and limiting home language input may be needed for children with HL exposed to two languages (e.g., Deriaz et al, 2014; Teschendorf et al, 2011). As Guiberson (2014) notes, when it comes to bilingual children with HL, it is not unusual to encounter “fear that bilingualism may splinter linguistic resources or result in linguistic confusion” (p. 87).…”

“…It has to be noted that the age of implantation was considerably higher for members of the bilingual group than for those of the monolingual one — a factor that is unequivocally correlated with poorer speech and language outcomes for all children, even those with a coordinated language in the home and majority culture. Furthermore, as noted with the Teschedorf et al (2011) study, there was no control for potential disparity in socio-economic status across the monolingual and bilingual groups, and bilingual children came from various first language backgrounds. Nonetheless, Deriaz et al (2014) emphasized that bilingual children needed intensive and good quality input in both languages and also encouraged parental involvement in rehabilitation efforts.…”

“…However, there is considerably less agreement both in the research literature and clinically regarding best practices when it comes to which spoken language to support in bilingual children with HL who use CIs and HAs (cf. Bunta & Douglas, 2013; Deriaz, Pelizzone, & Pérez Fornos, 2014; Guiberson, 2014; Rhoades & Chisolm, 2001; Teschendorf, Janeschik, Bagus, Lang, & Arweiler-Harbeck, 2011; Waltzman, McConkey Robbins, Green, & Cohen, 2003). …”

“…Some researchers have found evidence for supporting both spoken languages in bilingual children who have HL and use CIs and HAs (e.g., Bunta & Douglas, 2013; Guiberson, 2014) while other sources are more cautious or even refrain from recommending supporting the home language for this population (e.g., Teschendorf et al, 2011; Deriaz et al, 2014). In fact, when it comes to clinical practice, it is not uncommon to encounter “fear that bilingualism may splinter linguistic resources or result in linguistic confusion” in bilingual children with HL, as noted by Guiberson (2014, p. 87).…”

“…According to the results of the study, only some of the children from bilingual homes showed advanced spoken language skills in German. The authors concluded that “[a]dvanced language skills including the learning of a second spoken language are possible for children with cochlear implant living in a bilingual home, but that is the exception rather than the rule” (Teschendorf et al 2011, p. 229). The authors also claimed that factors such as how well the family integrated into the majority culture, parental education, how closely the habilitation program was being followed, and how well family members of the client spoke German all contributed to the spoken language performance of bilingual child participants with HL who used CIs.…”