Production of verb tenses in children with cochlear implants

Abstract

The production of verb tenses leads to better language development of children with cochlear implants. The aim of this study was to assess the acquisition of verb tenses in children with cochlear implants. The sample included 60 children, aged from 9 to 15, with average intellectual abilities. The study group consisted of 30 patients with cochlear implants, with no additional disabilities. The control group consisted of 30 subjects with typical speech - language development and preserved hearing. The acquisition of basic tenses was assessed by 'Corpus for the Assessment of the Use of Tenses' (Dimić, 2003). Significant statistical differences were found in the use of the present tense in children with cochlear implants and hearing children (t=-4.385; p<0.001) as well as in the use of the past tense (t=-4.650; p<0.001), and the future tense (t=-4.269; p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in the use of irregular verb 'go' (t=-3.958; p<0.001), as well as in the combination of the present and the past tense (t=-5.806; p<0.001). The present tense was used correctly by most children with cochlear implants (70%), followed by the past tense (53%), and finally the future tense (23%). Children with cochlear implants, even after several years of re/habilitation, do not reach the grammatical development of children with normal hearing.