The program was originally aired as part of the “Audiology 2012: Success for Students With Hearing Loss” online conference (October 17–29, 2012).

Cochlear implants and the rehabilitation processes associated with them positively influence the development of speech perception and literacy skills in many children with severe-to-profound hearing losses. In this presentation, we'll review data and communication outcomes associated with pediatric users of cochlear implants as they approach young adulthood, while discussing implications for therapy and educational systems. We'll review speech perception, speech production, language, and literacy development in this population. To round out the session, we'll discuss the influence of age of implantation and hearing history, changes in performance over time, and the factors that influence language and literacy performance.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• differentiate how demographic and hearing history influence literacy development in children using cochlear implants
• outline how reading performance changes over time between elementary and high school years in children using cochlear implants
• describe how early elementary school performance influences later high school performance
• discuss the communication expectations families should know about cochlear implants