Language development of a multiply handicapped child after cochlear implantation.

The presence of additional handicaps in hearing-impaired children makes the prediction of language ability after cochlear implantation unreliable. Only limited follow-up data on developmental improvement after implantation among multiply handicapped children is available. The present study reports the course of development (audiological and linguistic) after cochlear implantation in one subject with moderate mental retardation. Preoperatively, his language development showed 34 months delay when compared to chronological age. The difference had shortened to 23 months by 2 years post-surgery. The subject's cognitive delay had not changed upon 2-year follow-up. The cochlear implant can be credited to his improvement in language development.