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Working Memory Training in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

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Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Abstract

Verbal working memory is significantly delayed in many prelingually deaf children who receive cochlear implants. Because of the importance of working memory for language, learning, and daily functioning, these delays present a significant challenge to cognitive development and quality of life. In order to address the consequences of working memory delays in normal-hearing children, several computer-based, game-like programs have been developed with the goal of improving working memory. Research on these working memory training programs using normal-hearing samples has demonstrated improvement on measures of abilities that are similar to the trained working memory tasks. Findings have been suggestive but less consistent about improvement in other abilities such as fluid intelligence, attention, concentration, and academic skills. In a pilot study of a working memory training program in a sample of prelingually deaf, early implanted children and adolescents with cochlear implants, we found improvement after training on measures of working memory and sentence repetition. Results were less robust for measures of fluency/speed, and the magnitude of improvement (with the notable exception of sentence repetition skills) declined during a 6-month follow-up period. Larger samples and randomized, controlled designs are recommended as a next step to develop and evaluate novel working memory training interventions for children with cochlear implants.

Author Note

This work was supported by NIDCD (R01 DC009581 and R01 DC000111). The authors thank Shirley Henning, Bethany Colson, Terri Kerr, Allison Ditmars, Allison Woody, Laura Maxey, and Sami Gharbi for their help with this research program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Riley Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Room 4300, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    William G. Kronenberger Ph.D.

  2. DeVault Otologic Research Lab, Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    William G. Kronenberger Ph.D. & David B. Pisoni Ph.D.

  3. DeVault Otologic Research Lab, Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    David B. Pisoni Ph.D.

Authors
  1. William G. Kronenberger Ph.D.
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  2. David B. Pisoni Ph.D.
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Correspondence to William G. Kronenberger Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Otology/Neurotology, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital Section of Otology/Neurotology, CHICAGO, Illinois, USA

    Nancy M Young

  2. Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Champaign, Illinois, USA

    Karen Iler Kirk

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Kronenberger, W.G., Pisoni, D.B. (2016). Working Memory Training in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants. In: Young, N., Iler Kirk, K. (eds) Pediatric Cochlear Implantation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2788-3_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2788-3_18

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