Differences in language outcomes after cochlear implantation in children: Exploring the impact of auditory verbal therapy duration (0, 1, or 3 years)

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) on spoken language and pragmatic skills five years after cochlear implantation in children enrolled in rehabilitation programs of varying durations (0, 1, 3 years). METHODS: The design was a retrospective cohort study, including 87 children with cochlear implants, grouped based on the duration of AVT: 19 in the 0-year group, 33 in the 1-year group, and 35 in the 3-year group. Language and pragmatic skills were assessed five years post-implantation, using the Clinical Evaluation Language Fundamentals. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in language development five years post-implant, with children receiving 3 years of AVT achieving higher Core Language Scores (CLS) and Expressive Language Index (ELI) scores than those with 0 or 1 year of AVT. No significant differences were found between the 0- and 1-year groups. The percentage of children performing within the normal range increased from 47 % (CLS) and 53 % (ELI) in the 0-year AVT group, to 61 % (CLS + ELI) in the 1-year AVT group, and 83 % and 80 %, respectively, in the 3-year AVT group. No group differences were found in pragmatic skills. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the critical importance of early and extended AVT in facilitating optimal language development in children with cochlear implants. After five years, children who received 3 years of AVT continued to outperform those who received only 0 or 1 year of AVT. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether the effects of AVT on language and pragmatic skills persist or evolve over time.