The vocalizations of seven normally hearing (NH) and seven severely hearing-impaired (HI) infants were compared to find out the influence of auditory feedback on preverbal utterances. It was tested whether there are general differences in vocalizations between NH and HI infants, and whether specific emotional states affect the vocal production of NH and HI infants in the same way. First, the acoustic structure of the three most common vocal types was analyzed; second, the composition of vocal sequences was examined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the study was to compare the vocalizations of normally hearing and profoundly hearing-impaired infants in the first year of life. After the first recording all hearing-impaired infants were provided with hearing aids. We focused on three issues: (1) Are there different types of preverbal vocalizations in the vocal repertoire of normally hearing and hearing-impaired infants? (2) Do the vocal types emerge at similar age? (3) Does hearing impairment influence the acoustic structure of the preverbal vocalization types common to normally hearing and hearing-impaired infants? The study shows that both normally hearing and hearing-impaired infants have the same vocal repertoire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec
October 2003
Auditory performance of cochlear implant (CI) children was assessed with the Listening Progress Profile (LiP) and the Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic-Word Test (MTP) following the EARS protocol. Additionally, the 'initial drop' phenomenon, a recently reported decrease of auditory performance occurring immediately after first fitting, was investigated. Patients were 140 prelingually deafened children from various clinics and centers worldwide implanted with a MEDEL COMBI 40/40+.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nonverbal vocal utterances of seven normally hearing infants were studied within their first year of life with respect to age- and emotion-related changes. Supported by a multiparametric acoustic analysis it was possible to distinguish one inspiratory and eleven expiratory call types. Most of the call types appeared within the first two months; some emerged in the majority of infants not until the 5th ("laugh") or 7th month ("babble").
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