The long-term goal of this project is to increase our knowledge and understanding of the phonological systems acquired by profoundly deaf children who have used cochlear implants for at least five years. We propose to apply methods from theoretical and clinical linguistics to produce detailed analyses of the phonological systems that underlie speech production by deaf children after cochlear implantation. These detailed linguistic analyses of sound segment inventories, constraints on sequencing, variation in phonetic realizations of morphemes, and implementation of phonological rules will then be compared to both all phonological systems in general and the phonological systems of deaf children who use conventional hearing aids, children who have normal hearing, and fully developed English. Longitudinal analyses of the phonological systems of children who use cochlear implants will identify possible directions and extent of changes in those systems and provide information regarding constraints on changes over time. Subtypes of phonological systems, based on structural similarities, will be identified and related to speech perception abilities and demographic factors such as age at implantation and communication mode to identify specific factors that may affect how phonological systems are structured. This research project will thus address the critical question of how cochlear implants shape the ultimate linguistic systems of children who use them. Findings will provide valuable new empirical and theoretical information about phonological development, which should have important implications for device design, the development and implementation of new intervention programs, and choices in educational placement. Finally, the proposed project on phonological systems of deaf children following cochlear implantation will provide new insights into the ability of the human brain to adapt to electrical hearing as a catalyst for the development of structured linguistic systems underlying spoken language development. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC005594-05
Application #
7275927
Study Section
Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes 3 (BBBP)
Program Officer
Cooper, Judith
Project Start
2003-09-01
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2007-09-01
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$239,113
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603007902
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202
Houston, Derek M; Beer, Jessica; Bergeson, Tonya R et al. (2012) The ear is connected to the brain: some new directions in the study of children with cochlear implants at Indiana University. J Am Acad Audiol 23:446-63
Teoh, Amy P; Chin, Steven B (2009) Transcribing the speech of children with cochlear implants: clinical application of narrow phonetic transcriptions. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 18:388-401
Sanders, Nathan C; Chin, Steven B (2009) Phonological Distance Measures. J Quant Linguist 16:96-114
Kim, Jungsun; Chin, Steven B (2008) Fortition and lenition patterns in the acquisition of obstruents by children with cochlear implants. Clin Linguist Phon 22:233-51
Chin, Steven B (2007) Variation in consonant cluster production by pediatric cochlear implant users. Ear Hear 28:7S-10S
Chin, Steven B (2006) Realization of complex onsets by pediatric users of cochlear implants. Clin Linguist Phon 20:501-8