PURPOSE: to analyze and compare the verbal expression of children without hearing impairment and deaf children using cochlear implants. METHODS: the participants were twelve children without hearing impairment, with ages between four years two months and four years eleven months and ten deaf children using cochlear implants with age between four years and three months and five years and zero months. The children were evaluated using the Verbal Expression Scale of Reynell Developmental Language Scales (RDLS), American version, adapted by Fortunato-Queiroz (2007). The data of the two groups of children were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: the deaf children had a worse performance when compared to the children without hearing impairment. Three deaf children had results that approximate the results of the children without hearing impairment, accepted as normal standard in this work. CONCLUSION: the results of the deaf children using cochlear implants were inferiors yours pairs listeners. The deaf children who showed the biggest punctuations were the ones with shorter time of hearing sense deprivation and longer time using the cochlear implant.
Cochlear Implantation; Language Development; Deafness
