Mainstream School Performance of Children with Hearing Impairment Using Cochlear Implant: A Preliminary Report from a Teacher's Perspective

Cochlear implantation in children with hearing impairment (HI) have demonstrated significant outcomes in the areas of spoken language development and education. However, it has been reported that children with cochlear implant (CI) have variable performance in regular educational settings. Therefore, the aim of study is to understand the issues related to classroom performance in children with cochlear implant from a teacher's point of view. Children with cochlear implant placed in mainstream education were recruited for the study. The class teacher filled out a questionnaire that was developed which included 14 domains that was identified based on previous literature. The results indicated significant lacunae in the areas of communication, listening, and social interaction, use of appropriate compensatory strategies, test taking skills, reading, and writing. Children with CI exhibited considerable deficits in mainstream education. However, the study highlighted the potential areas that required professional support to cope with mainstream education. The results of the study can also help to enhance teacher education and thereby facilitate better learning opportunities for children with CI.