This long-term report shows that many profoundly hearing-impaired children using cochlear implants can develop functional levels of speech perception and production, attain age-appropriate oral language, develop competency level in a language other than their primary language, and achieve satisfactory academic performance.

Despite significant differences in the grade failure rate between the children with cochlear implants and the general population, the participants in the present study ultimately achieved educational and employment levels similar to those of their normal-hearing peers. To minimize these delays and improve academic success in mainstream education, early oral education and early cochlear implantation are important.

Age at implantation, duration of CI, preoperative hearing levels, and age of HA fitting may each be useful in predicting linguistic success after cochlear implantation. Other factors such as preoperative linguistic development may also influence postoperative outcomes, but the lack of tests suitable for use with very young children makes such a hypothesis difficult to confirm.

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