Enhancing Executive Functioning: The Impact of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Cochlear-Implanted Children
Abstract
Background and Aim: Executive Functions (EFs) are essential for learning and self-regulation in children. This study explored the transformative potential of Cognitive Rehabilitation (CR) in enhancing EFs among children with Cochlear Implants (CI). The focus was on assessing key areas of cognitive flexibility, rule acquisition, attention, spatial planning, working memory, and strategy use.
Methods: Utilizing a semi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test evaluations, our study focused on children aged 8 to 11 years. A total of 24 children (13 girls and 11 boys) were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of targeted computerized CR, while the control group received no intervention. Post-intervention, we compared the outcomes of both groups.
Results: The results revealed a significant improvement in the EFs of the experimental group compared to the control group (p=0.01). These findings underscore the effectiveness of CR in enhancing executive functioning in children with CI.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that cognitive rehabilitation could improve and enhance cognitive flexibility, rule acquisition, attentional set shifting, spatial planning, motor control, working memory capacity, and strategy use.
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16. Pisoni DB, Conway CM, Kronenberger WG, Henning S, Anaya E. Executive Function, Cognitive Control, and Sequence Learning in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants. In: Marschark M, Spencer PE, editors. The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies, Language, and Education, Vol. 2. New York: Oxford; 2010. p. 439-57.
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21. Netten AP, Rieffe C, Theunissen SC, Soede W, Dirks E, Briaire JJ, et al. Low empathy in deaf and hard of hearing (pre) adolescents compared to normal hearing controls. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0124102. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124102]
22. Dehghanizadeh M, Akbarfahimi M, Zareiyan A, Yazdani F, Khalafbeigi M, Soleimani F. Predictors of Interest in Performing Activities Among Iranian Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2020;18(4):377-86. [DOI:10.32598/irj.18.4.422.5]
2. Tillein J, Hubka P, Kral A. Monaural Congenital Deafness Affects Aural Dominance and Degrades Binaural Processing. Cereb Cortex. 2016;26(4):1762-77. [DOI:10.1093/cercor/bhv351]
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Identifying infants with hearing loss - United States, 1999-2007. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59(8):220-3. Erratum in: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59(15):460.
4. Kronenberger WG, Pisoni DB. Working Memory Training in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants. In: Young NM, Kirk KI, editors. Pediatric cochlear implantation: learning and the brain. 1st ed. New York, NY: Springer; 2016. p. 275-92.
5. Beer J, Pisoni DB, Kronenberger WG, Geers AE. New Research Findings: Executive Functions of Adolescents Who Use Cochlear Implants. ASHA Lead. 2010;15(15):12-15.
6. Wolff AB, Thatcher RW. Cortical reorganization in deaf children. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1990;12(2):209-21. [DOI:10.1080/01688639008400968]
7. Barkley RA. Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved. New York, NY: Guilford Publications; 2012.
8. Pisoni DB, Geers AE. Working memory in deaf children with cochlear implants: correlations between digit span and measures of spoken language processing. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl. 2000;185:92-3. [DOI:10.1177/0003489400109s1240]
9. Sohlberg MM, Mateer CA. Cognitive Rehabilitation: An Integrative Neuropsychological Approach. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Publications; 2001.
10. Bansal A. Evaluating the short-term effects of home-based computerized multi-domain cognitive training in adult cochlear implant users: A prospective randomized intervention study. [Master’s thesis]. Norway: University of Oslo; 2014.
11. Mattioli F, Stampatori C, Zanotti D, Parrinello G, Capra R. Efficacy and specificity of intensive cognitive rehabilitation of attention and executive functions in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 2010;288(1-2):101-5. [DOI:10.1016/j.jns.2009.09.024]
12. Kesler SR, Lacayo NJ, Jo B. A pilot study of an online cognitive rehabilitation program for executive function skills in children with cancer-related brain injury. Brain Inj. 2011;25(1):101-12. [DOI:10.3109/02699052.2010.536194]
13. Taljaard DS, Olaithe M, Brennan-Jones CG, Eikelboom RH, Bucks RS. The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a meta-analysis in adults. Clin Otolaryngol. 2016;41(6):718-729. [DOI:10.1111/coa.12607]
14. Ashori M. [Effect of cognitive rehabilitation program based on memory on executive functions and cognitive emotion regulation in children with hearing impairment]. Journal of Psychology of Exceptional Individuals. 2019, 9(34):197-217. Persian. [DOI:10.22054/jpe.2019.42397.1994]
15. Gharashi K, Abdi R. The Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Planning and Working Memory of Executive Functions in Cochlear Implanted Children. Aud Vestib Res. 2022;31(3):180-8. [DOI:10.18502/avr.v31i3.9868]
16. Pisoni DB, Conway CM, Kronenberger WG, Henning S, Anaya E. Executive Function, Cognitive Control, and Sequence Learning in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants. In: Marschark M, Spencer PE, editors. The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies, Language, and Education, Vol. 2. New York: Oxford; 2010. p. 439-57.
17. Roque DT, Teixeira RAA, Zachi EC, Ventura DF. The use of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) in neuropsychological assessment: application in Brazilian research with control children and adults with neurological disorders. Psychol Neurosci. 2011;4(2):255-65. [DOI:10.3922/j.psns.2011.2.011]
18. Kaplan E, Fein D, Maerlander A, Morris R, Kramer J. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. 4th ed. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corp; 2004.
19. Goldstein FC, Levin HS. Disorders of reasoning and problemsolving ability. In: Meier MJ, Benton AL, Diller L, editors. Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1987. p. 327-54.
20. Fray PJ, Robbins TW, Sahakian BJ. Neuorpsychiatyric Applications of CANTAB. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1996;11(4):329-36. [DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199604)11:4<329::AIDGPS453>3.0.CO;2-6]
21. Netten AP, Rieffe C, Theunissen SC, Soede W, Dirks E, Briaire JJ, et al. Low empathy in deaf and hard of hearing (pre) adolescents compared to normal hearing controls. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0124102. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124102]
22. Dehghanizadeh M, Akbarfahimi M, Zareiyan A, Yazdani F, Khalafbeigi M, Soleimani F. Predictors of Interest in Performing Activities Among Iranian Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2020;18(4):377-86. [DOI:10.32598/irj.18.4.422.5]
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 34 No 1 (2025) | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v34i1.17276 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Cognitive rehabilitation executive functions deaf children cochlear implant | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Gharashi K, Abdi R. Enhancing Executive Functioning: The Impact of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Cochlear-Implanted Children. Aud Vestib Res. 2024;34(1):88-96.
