The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the auditory memory scores obtained using the verbal and picture-pointing response modes in children with cochlear implants and implant-age matched typically developing children.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
When assessing auditory memory in pediatric cochlear implant users, clinicians should consider that response mode (verbal vs. picture-pointing) may influence scores; test format selection should be deliberate rather than arbitrary.
Understanding how test design affects auditory memory measurement in cochlear implant children is critical for obtaining accurate assessments and avoiding misclassification of cognitive-auditory abilities.
- 01Cross-sectional study compared auditory memory in children with cochlear implants across two response modes.
- 02Response mode (verbal vs. picture-pointing) significantly influenced auditory memory scores.
- 03Findings suggest test format is a confounding variable in auditory memory assessment.
- 04Published ahead of print in Cochlear Implants International (2026).
- 05Has implications for how audiologists and speech-language pathologists select assessment tools.
Auditory memory performance in pediatric cochlear implant users varies depending on whether the response mode is verbal or picture-pointing.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42363937
- DOI
- 10.1080/14670100.2026.2690701.
- Journal
- Cochlear Implants International
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Children with cochlear implants
- Intervention
- Auditory memory assessment using verbal response mode
- Comparator
- Auditory memory assessment using picture-pointing response mode
Primary outcomes
Auditory memory scores across verbal response mode; Auditory memory scores across picture-pointing response mode