The presence of congenital permanent childhood hearing loss has a negative impact on children's development and lives. The current literature documents weaknesses in speech perception in noise and language development in many children with hearing loss. However, there is a lack of clear evidence for a longitudinal relationship between early speech perception abilities and later language skills. This study addressed the evidence gap by drawing on data collected as part of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study. Cross-lagged regression analyses were used to examine the influence of speech perception in noise at age 5 years on language ability at age 9 years and vice versa (i.e. the influence of language ability at age 5 years on speech perception in noise at age 9 years). Data from 56 children using cochlear implants were analysed. We found that preschool speech perception in noise was a significant predictor of language ability at school age, after controlling for the effect of early language. The findings lend support to early intervention that targets the improvement of language skills, but also highlight the need for intervention and technology to enhance young children's auditory capabilities for perceiving speech in noise in early childhood so that outcomes of children with hearing loss in school can be maximized.
Keywords: children; cochlear implants; language skills; longitudinal relationship; speech perception.