
A recent study has highlighted a significant disparity in speech development outcomes among deaf children with cochlear implants, linked closely to their socioeconomic status (SES). Conducted by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the study found that 85 percent of commercially insured children with cochlear implants primarily used spoken language, compared to only 33 percent of children eligible for Medicaid. These findings were published in the journal Laryngoscope.
The study underscores the critical role that socioeconomic factors play in the linguistic development of children with severe to profound hearing loss. According to Dr. Nancy M. Young, the lead author and Medical Director of Audiology and Cochlear Implant Programs at Lurie Children’s Hospital, “Our study shows that socioeconomic status also is a very important influence on spoken language after implantation.”
Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Language Development
Dr. Young, who is also a Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, explained that socioeconomic status has long been recognized as a determinant of language and literacy in hearing children. It is, therefore, unsurprising that it similarly affects children with cochlear implants. The study’s findings suggest that beyond early implantation, which is already known to be beneficial, SES remains a pivotal factor in determining whether spoken language becomes the primary mode of communication for these children.
“For many reasons, socioeconomic status affects language and literacy in hearing children, so it’s not surprising that it is also a major factor for children with cochlear implants,” said Dr. Young.
Family Language and Its Influence
In addition to socioeconomic factors, the study also explored the impact of family language on the acquisition of spoken language in children with cochlear implants. It examined whether the use of English only, bilingual English/Spanish, or Spanish only at home affected speech development. Interestingly, the study found that family language did not significantly impact the primary use of speech.
“Implant programs should not view family language other than English to be a negative factor in terms of spoken language development,” remarked Dr. Young. She emphasized that while families speaking languages other than English might often belong to lower socioeconomic groups, bilingualism itself is not detrimental to language development. “Our study supports that this may be true of children receiving a cochlear implant as well,” she added.
Study Details and Future Research Directions
The study analyzed medical records of 176 children who received cochlear implants before the age of three, with an average follow-up age of 5.8 years. Dr. Young highlighted the need for further research to develop interventions that could improve language outcomes for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
“There is evidence that targeted coaching of parents on interactive multimodal (visual and verbal) communication strategies to encourage spoken language is effective,” said Dr. Young. “How to best mentor lower socioeconomic families in these strategies and whether they are effective when provided virtually needs to be studied.”
This research was supported by the Lillian S. Wells Foundation and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Dr. Young holds the Lillian S. Wells Professorship in Pediatric Otolaryngology.
About Lurie Children’s Cochlear Implant Program
Lurie Children’s Cochlear Implant Program is renowned for its extensive experience, having performed over 2,000 procedures since its inception in 1991. As a nonprofit organization, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is dedicated to providing exceptional care to all children. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and is recognized nationally for its commitment to pediatric healthcare and research.
Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which focuses on improving child health and transforming pediatric medicine. The hospital also serves as the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
As the study sheds light on the intersection of socioeconomic status and language development in children with cochlear implants, it calls for a broader discussion on how to bridge these gaps and ensure equitable outcomes for all children, regardless of their economic background.