What is it about?
This study explores which factor more strongly affects speech perception in noise among school-aged children with bilateral cochlear implants: the child’s chronological age, the age at second implantation, or the interval between implants. We used the Turkish Hearing in Noise Test for Children (THINT-C) with an adaptive procedure, allowing a more realistic evaluation of listening in everyday noisy environments. Parents also completed the PEACH questionnaire to reflect daily-life auditory behaviors.
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Why is it important?
Children with cochlear implants struggle most in noisy classrooms, group activities and social environments. Understanding which developmental or clinical variables truly matter helps clinicians tailor: earlier interventions, educational accommodations, realistic expectations for families, follow-up and rehabilitation strategies. Until now, it was unclear whether outcomes were more strongly shaped by implant timing or by the child's developmental auditory maturity.
Perspectives
This research reinforced something I frequently see in clinical practice: children’s auditory development continues to shape their listening outcomes long after implantation. While we often focus on surgical timelines, it became clear to me that chronological age has a stronger influence on how children understand speech in noisy environments. I hope this perspective helps families, clinicians, and educators better interpret test results and appreciate the broader developmental context behind them.
Ecem Kartal Özcan
University of Health Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Which Factor Has a Greater Impact on Speech Perception in Noise in School-Aged Children With Cochlear Implants: Chronological Age or Age at Implantation?, Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, August 2025, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2025_lshss-25-00028.
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