Gesture frequency in communication of cochlear implanted children

Abstract

This study is observing both natural and learned gestures as a part of communication in hearing impaired children with cochlear implant and/or hearing aids, accompaning certain action or verbal statement. The objective of the study was to observe the frequency of gesture use in deaf and hard of hearing children with different types of amplification Various impact factors affecting frequency of gesture use, such as gender, chronological age,onset of rehabiliation and educational settings were taken into consideartion as well. The sample consisted of 40 children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss divided in two groups according to amplification type. Younger group consisted of children aged 5 to 10 years and older group 11 to 15 years. The cochlear implant group consisted of 18 children and hearing aid group of 22. The pairs of children with adjusted age and type of amplification have been filmed during play in the ‖ shop „with ten objects or age appropriate toys.The videos were analyzed afterwards and communication has been classified as verbal, total or gestual. Word list has been based on video records. The results have shown statistically significant advantage of boys regarding oral use of verbs (t(14) = 2,569, p<0,0) and early rehabilitated children (oral use of verbs t(14) = 2,575, p<0,05 and pronouns t(14) = 2,763, p<0,05). Gesture use is more frequent in older children with conventional hearing aids. Younger children tend to use more words than gestures. Cochlear implanted children use considerably less gestures. Overall number of words and gestures used in communication increases over time.. Key words: cochlear implant, gesture, hearing aid, children *Part of the project of Ministry of science and technological development of Serbia ―Influence of cochlear implantation on education of deaf and hard of hearing children ―.