Verbal, Figural, and Arithmetic Fluency of Children with Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Cochlear implantation gives children with prelingual severe hearing loss and deafness the opportunity to develop their hearing abilities, speech, language, cognitive abilities and academic skills with adequate rehabilitation. The aim of the research was to analyze verbal, figural and arithmetic fluency and their interrelationship in children with a cochlear implant (CI) and children with normal hearing (NH). A total of 46 children with CI and 110 children with NH, aged 9 to 16, participated in the research. Verbal fluency was assessed using phonemic and semantic fluency, and non-verbal fluency using figural fluency. Arithmetic fluency was assessed using simple arithmetic tasks within the number range up to 100. The results showed that children with CI achieved poorer results in phonemic fluency (z = -4.92; p < 0.001), semantic fluency (z = -3.89; p < 0.001), figural fluency (z = -3.07; p = 0.002), and arithmetic fluency (z = -4.27; p < 0.001). In both groups, a positive correlation was obtained between the measured modalities and types of fluency. In the group of children with CI, a sex difference was obtained on the phonemic fluency test, in favor of girls. The age of children with CI was correlated with arithmetic fluency. Verbal, figural and arithmetic fluency of children with CI speak in favor of the importance of early auditory and language experiences.

Keywords: cognitive functions; deafness; hearing impairment; mathematical fluency; non-verbal fluency; phonemic fluency; semantic fluency.

Figure 1

(a) Comparison of numbers of correct words on the phonemic fluency (PF) test between children with CI (represented in blue) and children with NH (represented in green). Children with CI had 17.521 ± 7.653 correct words; children with NH had 24.927 ± 8.784. A statistical difference was found (Z = −4.916; p < 0.001). (b) Comparison of numbers of correct words on the semantic fluency (SF) test between children with CI and children with NH. Children with CI produced 15.044 ± 5.428 correct words; children with NH had 18.855 ± 5.474. A significant difference was found (Z = −3.889; p < 0.001).

Figure 2

Comparison of numbers of correct figures on figural fluency (FF) test between children with CI (represented in blue) and children with NH (represented in green). Average numbers of correct figures in the group of children with CI were 18.957 ± 6.706, and 23.373 ± 7.711 for children with NH. A significant difference was found (Z = −3.068; p = 0.002).

Figure 3

Comparison of numbers of correctly completed tasks on an arithmetic fluency (AF) test between children with CI (represented in blue) and children with NH (represented in green). Children with CI had 25.870 ± 10.269 correct answers; children with NH had 34.000 ± 9.280. A significant difference was found (Z = −4.273; p < 0.001).