Cognitive Development

Abstract

The impact of cochlear implants (CIs) on the development of speech and language skills in deaf children is very well documented. The influence of CIs on the development of other cognitive abilities has been much less well researched and the findings are more variable. This chapter first briefly considers the evidence for changes in overall intellectual ability as demonstrated by global measures of IQ. This is followed by discussion of the evidence on the impact of CIs on the specific cognitive functions of attention, memory, and reasoning, each in terms of both verbal and visual/nonverbal processing. Evidence regarding the behavioral manifestations of these cognitive processes is also reviewed, all from preschool age through to college-age individuals. Finally, the implications for assessment of, and intervention for, differences in cognitive development as a result of cochlear implantation are briefly considered.