The purpose of this study was to evaluate gross motor competence in children with cochlear implants (CI) compared with normal-hearing (NH) peers and to determine whether CI use is associated with differences in gross motor competence.
Audiologists and CI teams should be aware that cochlear-implanted children may present with gross motor delays and consider routine vestibular screening or referral to physiotherapy/occupational therapy as part of habilitation planning.
Recognising motor development as a potential downstream consequence of cochlear implantation or underlying vestibular pathology broadens the rehabilitation scope beyond hearing and speech for this population.
- 01Compares gross motor skill competence between cochlear-implanted children and normal-hearing peers.
- 02Explores whether vestibular dysfunction or auditory processing deficits underlie any motor skill gap.
- 03Gross motor delays in CI children have implications for physical education and overall development.
- 04Findings could support integrating vestibular and motor assessments into standard CI follow-up.
- 05Adds to a growing body of evidence linking cochlear implantation with vestibular side effects.
Children with cochlear implants demonstrate gross motor skill deficits compared to normal-hearing peers.
studyunclearGross motor deficits in CI children may be linked to vestibular or auditory processing deficits.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42472962
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00405-026-10402-w.
- Journal
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 3
- Population
- Children with cochlear implants compared to normal-hearing children
- Intervention
- Cochlear implantation (as exposure)
- Comparator
- Normal-hearing peers
Primary outcomes
Gross motor skill competence scores