Abstract

This longitudinal study investigates the impact of cochlear implantation (CI) on the speech and language development of prelingually deaf children. A cohort of children who received cochlear implants between 18 months and 4 years of age were followed for a period of 5 years post-implantation. Speech and language outcomes were assessed using a combination of standardized testing, clinical observation, and parental reports. The results highlight significant improvements in speech recognition, language comprehension, and expressive communication, although variability was observed depending on age at implantation, duration of hearing loss, and family support. The study also explores the implications of early implantation for language development and the critical period for speech acquisition.