A Case Study of Literacy Development in a Child with a Cochlear Implant
Open Access
Author:
Fustos, Emily Margaret
Area of Honors:
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Carol Anne Miller, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Carol Anne Miller, Thesis Honors Advisor Dr. Ingrid Maria Blood, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
literacy reading oral development cochlear implant early intervention
Abstract:
I was born with a bilateral profound hearing loss, and I was implanted at age 2 with a cochlear implant. This paper investigates my language development as a hearing impaired child, focusing on literacy development. Sources of information about my language development came from interviews with my mother, early interventionist, and my audiologist. Reading techniques such as labeling and open-ended questions were among the most beneficial strategies used to teach me to read. The use of these techniques was supported by previous research of the benefits of educational reading strategies. While my case is a very successful example of early implantation and resulting near-normal language development, the techniques discussed in this paper are beneficial for any child with a hearing loss learning to read.
