Comparisons of IQ in children with and without cochlear implants: longitudinal findings and associations with langage
Comparisons of IQ in children with and without cochlear implants: longitudinal findings and associations with langage
Objectives: To make longitudinal comparisons of intelligence quotient (IQ)
in children with cochlear implants (CIs) and typical hearing peers from early
in development to the school-age period. Children with additional comorbidities
and CIs were also evaluated. To estimate the impact of socioeconomic
status and oral language on school-age cognitive performance.
Design: This longitudinal study evaluated nonverbal IQ in a multicenter,
national sample of 147 children with CIs and 75 typically hearing peers.
IQ was evaluated at baseline, prior to cochlear implantation, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Leiter International Performance Scale. School-age IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children. For the current study, only the
Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed indices were administered.
Oral language was evaluated using the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language.
Results: Children in the CI group scored within the normal range of intelligence
at both time points. However, children with additional comorbidities scored significantly worse on the Processing Speed, but not the
Perceptual Reasoning Index. Maternal education and language were significantly
related to school-age IQ in both groups. Importantly, language
was the strongest predictor of intellectual functioning in both children
with CIs and normal hearing.
Conclusion: These results suggest that children using cochlear implants
perform similarly to hearing peers on measures of intelligence, but those
with severe comorbidities are at-risk for cognitive deficits. Despite the
strong link between socioeconomic status and intelligence, this association
was no longer significant once spoken language performance was
accounted for. These results reveal the important contributions that early
intervention programs, which emphasize language and parent training,
contribute to cognitive functioning in school-age children with CIs. For families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who are at-risk for suboptimal outcomes, these early intervention programs are critical to improve overall functioning.
Cochlear implants
Intelligence quotient
Socioeconomic status
Spoken language
Cognitive abilities
Hearing loss
Processing speed
Perceptual reasoning
Language development
Objectives: To make longitudinal comparisons of intelligence quotient (IQ)
in children with cochlear implants (CIs) and typical hearing peers from early
in development to the school-age period. Children with additional comorbidities
and CIs were also evaluated. To estimate the impact of socioeconomic
status and oral language on school-age cognitive performance.
Design: This longitudinal study evaluated nonverbal IQ in a multicenter,
national sample of 147 children with CIs and 75 typically hearing peers.
IQ was evaluated at baseline, prior to cochlear implantation, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Leiter International Performance Scale. School-age IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children. For the current study, only the
Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed indices were administered.
Oral language was evaluated using the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language.
Results: Children in the CI group scored within the normal range of intelligence
at both time points. However, children with additional comorbidities scored significantly worse on the Processing Speed, but not the
Perceptual Reasoning Index. Maternal education and language were significantly
related to school-age IQ in both groups. Importantly, language
was the strongest predictor of intellectual functioning in both children
with CIs and normal hearing.
Conclusion: These results suggest that children using cochlear implants
perform similarly to hearing peers on measures of intelligence, but those
with severe comorbidities are at-risk for cognitive deficits. Despite the
strong link between socioeconomic status and intelligence, this association
was no longer significant once spoken language performance was
accounted for. These results reveal the important contributions that early
intervention programs, which emphasize language and parent training,
contribute to cognitive functioning in school-age children with CIs. For families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who are at-risk for suboptimal outcomes, these early intervention programs are critical to improve overall functioning.
Cochlear implants
Intelligence quotient
Socioeconomic status
Spoken language
Cognitive abilities
Hearing loss
Processing speed
Perceptual reasoning
Language development