Gallaudet University
Who We Are
Our Work
Overview
News & Stories
Jan 26, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Upcoming Events
November 11, 2022
November 17, 2022
November 19, 2022
University Wide Events
No Communication Compromises
Areas of Study
Schools
Programs
Changing the world
Research
Community & Innovation
Research Experiences & Services
Your Journey Starts Here
Study
Learn
Undergraduate Support
Information
Tools & Resources
Explore Our Campus
Connect
Discover
Influence
Dec 9, 2022
Quick Links
Support
Meet the Team
FAQs
Contact
GU
/
Petitto Brain and Language ...
Cochlear implants and the brain: The biological basis for language and cognition in infants, children, and adults with cochlear implants
SLCC 1101
(202) 618-6808
(202) 651-5085
Email Us
Controversy abounds on the differences in language experience in the acquisition of spoken language in deaf individuals with cochlear implants (CIs).
Noteworthy is that early exposure to a signed language causes deviance to auditory language tissue development. Related claims are that young children with CIs should not receive early exposure to a signed language for fear that the tissue devoted to auditory processes will be “taken over” by signed language processing.
We ask whether early exposure to a visually signed language negatively impacts and causes neural deviance or abnormality to classic left-hemisphere spoken language tissue development in deaf individuals with early cochlear implantation, including left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (LIFG) and Superior Temporal Gyrus.
We find that early exposed deaf CI individuals showed entirely normal activation in classic LIFG. By contrast, late exposed deaf CI individuals showed greater activation in the right hemisphere. This supports the hypothesis that early sign language exposure facilitates standard language processing and does not cause neural deviance or abnormality in classic left-hemisphere language tissue.
Strong evidence of neural plasticity was not at work—auditory processes were not “taken over” by signed language processing in early sign-exposed individuals with CIs. Instead, their language tissue activity was entirely normal.
Rather than neural plasticity, findings suggest that aspects of left hemisphere language tissue thought to be “auditory” is not, but dedicated to processing particular patterns in natural language.
We conclude that early, not later, exposure to a signed language supports typical, healthy, and normal language development.
Science Director
Cryss Padilla