Articulatory acquisitions in congenitally deaf infants with cochlear implant

Abstract

Articulatory improvements in two congenitally deaf infants with cochlear implants were investigated during the first year after operation. Case 1, whose preoperative speech development kept abreast of his age, received the implant at 5 yeare 11 months. Case 2, whose preoperative speech development was behind his age, received the implant at 4 years 5 months. We recorded their spontaneous speech on videotape once before the operation and several times during the first postoperative year, and transcribed their pronunciation into the International Phonetic Alphabet in order to examine improvements in consonant production. The results were as follows. 1 A common tendency was observed in the acquisition of phonemes in both cases, which was thought to be related to the facility to Produce and perceive in patients fitted with devices. 2 No difference between the two cases existed with respect to phoneme acquisition times; however, case 2 required longer periods of time to produce such phonemes in his speech. We believe this last result might be caused by the difference in preoperative speech development between the two cases.