Assessment of the outcomes after Cochlear Implantation in very young Children.
Bodo Bertram.

The experiences of the last ten years have proven the high quality of Cochlear Implants. Many young congenitally deaf children have achieved good intelligible speech and spoken language by listening with this new device. However we must consider that not all children achieve these results.

Because of the costs for implantation and rehabilitation it is necessary to evaluate the outcomes of young children with Cochlear Implants. The assessment of hearing and language skills and the development of the personality of these children is important not only for professionals and parents, but also for health insurances, and for them especially the question of cost-benefit-ration.

Therefore the parameters of success have to be defined. It is difficult to compare the auditory skills and the abilities of speech and spoken language, because the individual characteristics differ from child to child. And therefore it is not easy to form groups of children with approximate similar qualifications.

In order to describe the benefits of implantation we use various tests before and after implantation like Hannover Hörprüfreihen (HHPR) with 11 subtests, Ravensburg-phonetic-test, and Developing Questionnaire about speech and language abilities, GASP, Common Phrase (Mr. Potatoes Head), TAPS and MAIS and MUSS. The children are tested 3,6,12 and 24 months after surgery.

Additionally we closely cooperate and exchange experiences with teachers for the deaf and therapist at the local area of the children. This contact is also important for professionals and support our work in the rehabilitation centre