Literacy and cognitive skills in children and adults with cochlear implant: the effects of a sign language

Individuals with hearing impairment have poor language processing including literacy skills due to their sensorial deprivation. Learning sign language can have a positive effect on this. In this project we will investigate whether children and adults with implantiations of the cochlear implant at different ages have distinguished linguistic skills depending on their knowledge of sign language. A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that aids in providing a sense of sound to someone with hearing impairments. A positive effect of sign language will aid in developing early intervention programes for children and optimize health services for individuals in need.