I was wondering if anyone had done (or knows of) research into inferential learning in cochlear implantees. My current understanding is that most literature says deaf children (which also implies adults) cannot overhear conversations which they are not a direct participant in, and so miss out on information which hearing people have access to. Most of the literature I've seen is from the educational fields, and so they suggest methods of educating to help avoid the impact of not being able to do this. Now, through personal experience I have met some young children who were implanted early enough that they can 'overhear'. Also, as a recent (5 years ago) implantee myself, I'm beginning to find I can do this sometimes, but its more of a 'cocktail party effect' than true 'overhearing'. So the words/sentences have to be very salient or obvious in a linguistic way (i.e. no other possibilities).
I am wondering whether this is an ability that could be trained, and if so how would that even be attempted? I see some parallels with divided attention topics over in cognitive psychology, and I am thinking about this being my topic for my MSc in 2014, but wondering if it might be a wee bit too large a scope. I am not even sure how to even measure it at this point.
You should do it, it would be an excellent topic for your MSc. As for measuring it, perhaps set up something like a set dialogue with a speaker talking to another person on the telephone and seeing how much of the conversation the implantee can pick up? That's how I "train" myself for overhearing, I just eavesdrop on other family members telephone conversations and try to make out as much as I can.
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