Comparative analysis of microstructures of narrative abilities in language-age-matched Tamil-speaking children with cochlear implants and typical hearing

Abstract

In a unique exploration of narrative development among Tamil-speaking children, this study delves into the intricacies of linguistic expression, explicitly comparing the microstructure of narratives in two distinct groups: those with hearing differences (HD) and those with normal hearing. A total of 30 children were included in the study, with 15 children in each group, matched for language age between 3-5 years on standard language tests. The children were asked to retell a story they had listened to, and the obtained samples were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for various microstructural elements, including the mean length of utterances, total number of words, number of utterances, and number of different word types. The results revealed that children with hearing loss used fewer words and simpler sentences during retelling despite having the same language age as their peers. This highlights the importance of incorporating narrative assessment in standard language evaluations. Furthermore, the findings emphasise integrating narrative intervention into language intervention programs to enhance language productivity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the narrative abilities of Tamil-speaking children with cochlear implants and underscores the significance of addressing narrative skills in language intervention approaches.