Impact of Age on Reading Abilities in Egyptian Children with Unilateral Cochlear Implant

Abstract

Abstract Background Reading problems means difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols. Children with cochlear implants generally suffer from reading problems which have been partly attributed to underlying deficit in phonological awareness. Chronological age represents important factor that affects their reading abilities. Aim of the Work This work aims to assess reading abilities in cochlear implant school children in order to highlight their reading problem profile, as to consider such problems in earlier years of life. This would subsequently solve their expected academic delay. Subjects and Methods This study was applied on 30 Egyptian Arabic-speaking children with unilateral cochlear implant in the age range between 5 to 11 years old. All of them underwent audiological evaluation, psychometric evaluation, Phonological Awareness Test, and Arabic Reading Screening Test (ARST). Results Analysis of the results of the participated children to the phonological awareness test and Arabic reading screening test, revealed that the majority of the studied patients were below the 5th percentile in all sub items of both tests. This indicates that cochlear implanted children have reading problems. There is positive correlation between most of subitems of both tests and chronological age of children. Conclusion and recommendation Cochlear implanted children had poor scores in phonological awareness test and Arabic reading screening test, their reading abilities were extremely impaired. Chronological age may be considered a factor that affects this relation. This higher susceptibility to reading problems as well as the importance of reading for their academic careers should be considered in their rehabilitation plan.