A critical barrier to progress in the field of cochlear implantation understands the role that fundamental mechanisms of learning and memory play in language outcomes. The long-term goal is to better understand and help treat the language delays exhibited by many deaf children with cochlear implants. The overall objective of this particular research project is to understand language delays in this population in terms of difficulties with underlying cognitive sequence learning abilities. Our central hypothesis is that language delays in these children are caused in part by disturbances to sequential learning- due to auditory and/or linguistic deprivation early in development -- and that by enhancing sequential learning, language function can be improved. The rationale that motivates the proposed research is that we expect at the conclusion of this project to have not only identified a major cause of language delays in this population but to also have formulated a new and promising intervention that specifically targets the development of sequential learning skills. We plan to test the central hypothesis and attain the objective of this application by pursuing the following three specific aims: 1) Determine the effects that congenital deafness has on the neural mechanisms of sequential learning; 2) Identify the relation between sequential learning skill and language outcomes; 3) Improve language outcomes in deaf children with cochlear implants by enhancing sequential learning abilities. For the first aim, we will compare the neurophysiologic (event-related potential, ERP) correlates of visual sequential learning in deaf children with cochlear implants to those of age-matched normal-hearing children. For the second aim, we will compare normal-hearing and deaf groups on two measures of language processing that are thought to rely on sequencing skills -- knowledge of word predictability and syntax -- and then empirically determine the association with sequential learning abilities. For the third aim, deaf children with cochlear implants will receive a computerized visual sequence training regimen; training and transfer effects will be assessed by comparing the training group to a control group on non-trained measures of learning and language. The proposed research is innovative, in our opinion, because it offers an entirely different approach that focuses on non- auditory, domain-general learning abilities that have been neglected in previous research with this population. The contribution of the proposed research project is expected to be the demonstration that disturbances to sequential learning abilities explain why many deaf children with cochlear implants struggle with acquiring language. Furthermore, we expect that by enhancing these learning abilities through computerized training techniques, language and communication function can be improved. This contribution will be significant because it has the potential to improve the quality of life for thousands of deaf children who currently exhibit minimum benefit from their implants because of difficulties with fundamental and crucial learning abilities.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to public health because it will help us not only understand why deaf children with cochlear implants struggle with language acquisition, but will also show us how to improve their language skills. This approach that focuses on assessing and training domain-general learning and language abilities will provide immediate benefits to the quality of life for deaf children with cochlear implants. Therefore, this project is relevant to the mission of the NIH/NIDCD because it will result both in new knowledge to help explain language outcomes as well as a novel intervention strategy that will improve language learning in this population.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01DC012037-05
Application #
9110242
Study Section
Language and Communication Study Section (LCOM)
Program Officer
Cooper, Judith
Project Start
2012-08-01
Project End
2017-07-31
Budget Start
2016-08-01
Budget End
2017-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia State University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
837322494
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30302
Deocampo, Joanne A; Smith, Gretchen N L; Kronenberger, William G et al. (2018) The Role of Statistical Learning in Understanding and Treating Spoken Language Outcomes in Deaf Children With Cochlear Implants. Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch 49:723-739
Singh, Sonia; Walk, Anne M; Conway, Christopher M (2018) Atypical predictive processing during visual statistical learning in children with developmental dyslexia: an event-related potential study. Ann Dyslexia 68:165-179
Arciuli, Joanne; Conway, Christopher M (2018) The Promise-and Challenge-of Statistical Learning for Elucidating Atypical Language Development. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 27:492-500
Daltrozzo, Jerome; Valdez, Gerardo E (2018) ENHANCING IMPLICIT LEARNING WITH POSTHYPNOTIC SUGGESTION: An ERP Study. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 66:174-210
Daltrozzo, Jerome; Emerson, Samantha N; Deocampo, Joanne et al. (2017) Visual statistical learning is related to natural language ability in adults: An ERP study. Brain Lang 166:40-51
Singh, Sonia; Daltrozzo, Jerome; Conway, Christopher M (2017) Effect of pattern awareness on the behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of visual statistical learning. Neurosci Conscious 2017:nix020
Pisoni, David B; Kronenberger, William G; Chandramouli, Suyog H et al. (2016) Learning and Memory Processes Following Cochlear Implantation: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle. Front Psychol 7:493
Walk, Anne M; Conway, Christopher M (2016) Cross-Domain Statistical-Sequential Dependencies Are Difficult to Learn. Front Psychol 7:250
Smith, Gretchen N L; Conway, Christopher M; Bauernschmidt, Althea et al. (2015) Can we improve structured sequence processing? Exploring the direct and indirect effects of computerized training using a mediational model. PLoS One 10:e0127148
Jost, Ethan; Conway, Christopher M; Purdy, John D et al. (2015) Exploring the neurodevelopment of visual statistical learning using event-related brain potentials. Brain Res 1597:95-107

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