A comparative Study of Second Language Word Recognition and Spoken Word Production: Cochlear Implanted and Normal hearing children

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to investigate word recognition and production of deaf children with cochlear implants to examine children's ability to comprehend and recognize second language words and produce them. By this study the researcher try to find the gap that exists among cochlear implants and normal children.Method: In doing so, parts of Pearson kindergarten end of year assessment (2011) were used in proficiency and post- test. The participants were 20 children. 10 normal and 10 children with profound hearing loss, their age from 5 to 8, they received Cochlear Implant (CI) under ages 3year and 6 month. Duration of CI used ranged from 1.6 to 4.6 years.Results: CIs showed no significantly differences to their chronological hearing age mates on word recognition. Spoken word production was administered orally; evidence showed there are significant differences on spoken word production of cochlear implants and normal hearing.Conclusion: Early diagnosis and intervention, early auditory experience and language learning, may affect children’s ability to acquire vocabulary knowledge quickly enough to close the gap that separates them from their hearing peers. Intensive intervention has resolved vocabulary delays in hearing and cochlear implanted children.

Keywords:

Cochlear Implant , Normal Hearing , Word Recognition , Spoken Word Production