Mother-child communication and language development after cochlear implantation: The role of mother's reaction to diagnosis, linguistic input and parenting competence (Joint-project 2016)

Using an innovative approach, the present study compares 30 children with CIs with 30 chronological-age-matched children and 30 hearing-age-matched children in terms of the predictive role for their communicative development of individual factors and the characteristics of mother-child communication. Interactions between children and their mothers are observed during shared-book reading and semi-structured play, first before CI activation and then for a period of 30 months thereafter. The Parenting Stress Index PSI and the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced COPE are administered to each mother and the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview is conducted with each mother of children with CI. The mother-child interactions are coded according to different indices of responsiveness and syncrony. The communicative functions and the quality of mother-child communication are also considered. Data logging incorporated into the CI will furnish direct information on hearing experience (auditory environment, amount of device use each day, auditory scenes). An intervention program will be developed with the aim of helping parents of children with CIs support their communications and their socio-emotional adjustment.