Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Nov 8, 2016; 5(4): 397-403
Published online Nov 8, 2016. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v5.i4.397
Can language acquisition be facilitated in cochlear implanted children? Comparison of cognitive and behavioral psychologists’ viewpoints
Leila Monshizadeh, Roshanak Vameghi, Fariba Yadegari, Firoozeh Sajedi, Seyed Basir Hashemi
Leila Monshizadeh, Roshanak Vameghi, Firoozeh Sajedi, Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran 1985713834, Iran
Fariba Yadegari, Department of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran 1985713834, Iran
Seyed Basir Hashemi, Department of Otolaryngology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134814336, Iran
Author contributions: Monshizadeh L proposed the main concept and idea of the research, performed the research and wrote the paper; Vameghi R made critical contribution to the concept and design of the research and performed critical revision related to content of the manuscript; Yadegary F, Sajedi F and Hashemi SB contributed equally in the concept and design of the study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Data sharing statement: No additional data is available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Roshanak Vameghi, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Velenjak Ave., Daneshjoo Blvd, Koodakyar St., Tehran 1985713834, Iran. r_vameghi@yahoo.com
Telephone: +98-21-22180099
Received: June 15, 2016
Peer-review started: June 15, 2016
First decision: July 27, 2016
Revised: September 19, 2016
Accepted: October 17, 2016
Article in press: October 18, 2016
Published online: November 8, 2016
Abstract
AIM

To study how language acquisition can be facilitated for cochlear implanted children based on cognitive and behavioral psychology viewpoints?

METHODS

To accomplish this objective, literature related to behaviorist and cognitive psychology prospects about language acquisition were studied and some relevant books as well as Medline, Cochrane Library, Google scholar, ISI web of knowledge and Scopus databases were searched. Among 25 articles that were selected, only 11 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Based on the inclusion criteria, review articles, expert opinion studies, non-experimental and experimental studies that clearly focused on behavioral and cognitive factors affecting language acquisition in children were selected. Finally, the selected articles were appraised according to guidelines of appraisal of medical studies.

RESULTS

Due to the importance of the cochlear implanted child’s language performance, the comparison of behaviorist and cognitive psychology points of view in child language acquisition was done. Since each theoretical basis, has its own positive effects on language, and since the two are not in opposition to one another, it can be said that a set of behavioral and cognitive factors might facilitate the process of language acquisition in children. Behavioral psychologists believe that repetition, as well as immediate reinforcement of child’s language behavior help him easily acquire the language during a language intervention program, while cognitive psychologists emphasize on the relationship between information processing, memory improvement through repetitively using words along with “associated” pictures and objects, motor development and language acquisition.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended to use a combined approach based on both theoretical frameworks while planning a language intervention program.

Keywords: Language, Cochlear implantation, Behavior, Child, Cognition

Core tip: Cognitive and behavioral theoretical frameworks are not in opposition to one another, at least when translated to practice. So, an intelligent practitioner in the field of speech therapy may make practical benefit of both theories simultaneously in a combined approach, by planning to promote the child’s cognitive and motor development and his ability for information processing, accompanied by appropriate reinforcement for his correctly imitated or spontaneous responses. This of course needs experimental research for verification of enhanced effectiveness.