Language functioning and speech development of six children receiving tracheotomy in infancy.

Overview

Language functioning and speech development were assessed in six preschool boys who had undergone tracheotomy during infancy and had tracheal tubes in place for varying periods of time (from 11 to 44 mo). Results indicated that neonatal tracheotomy did not produce long-term effects on language development. Children with subnormal intelligence showed aberrant language functioning, characteristic of language-disordered children who had not had tracheotomies. Children with average intelligence exhibited grossly normal expressive language and verbal comprehension. All children learned to produce some verbalizations, if only through pops, lip movements, and breath sounds; or through esophageal speech. One child who did not vocalize until his cannula was removed at 21 mo was able to develop age-appropriate expressive language, despite lack of previous opportunity to produce speech sounds.