Comparison of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Between Deaf Children with no Cochlear Implantation and Deaf Children 12-24 Months After Cochlear Implantation

Background and Objectives: It has been shown that cochlear implant significantly improves verbal communication in deaf children. The aim of the current study was to investigate and compare the verbal and non-verbal communication abilities in two groups of deaf children: without cochlear implant (CI), and children using CI for 12-24 months. The results were then compared with typically-developing children as the control group. Methods: 87 children participated in this cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study, (14 deaf children without CI, 25 children with CI that their hearing ages were 12 to 24 months and 48 normal children aged 12 to 24 months). A reliable verbal and non-verbal checklist was completed by parents and nonparametric method was used for data analyzing. Results: The results indicated that non-verbal communication skills were similar in all groups with no significant difference (P>0.05). However, verbal abilities in deaf children without CI were significantly impaired compared to the children with CI and control group (P0.05). Conclusion: It can be expected that deaf children who receive CI, will reach the verbal communication abilities of 12-24-month-old typically children, at least 12 to 24 months post-implantatio