Neurodevelopmental Aspects and Cortical Auditory Maturation in Children with Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Background and objectives: The cochlear implant is not only meant to restore auditory function, but it also has a series of benefits on the psychomotor development and on the maturation of central auditory pathways. In this study, with the help of neuropsychological tests and cortical auditory potentials (CAEPs), we intend to identify a series of instruments that allow us to monitor children with a cochlear implant, and later on, to admit them into an individualized rehabilitation program. Materials and methods: This is a longitudinal study containing 17 subjects (6 boys and 11 girls) diagnosed with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The average age for cochlear implantation in our cohort is 22 months old. Each child was tested before the cochlear implantation, tested again 3 months after the implant, and then 6 months after the implant. To test the general development, we used the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST II). CAEPs were recorded to assess the maturation of central auditory pathways. Results: The results showed there was progress in both general development and language development, with a significant statistical difference between the overall DQ (developmental quotient) and language DQ before the cochlear implantation and three and six months later, respectively. Similarly, CAEP measurements revealed a decrease of positive-going component (P1) latency after cochlear implantation. Conclusion: CAEPs and neuropsychological tests prove to be useful instruments for monitoring the progress in patients with cochlear implants during the rehabilitation process.

Improvement in quality of life comparing noninvasive versus invasive hearing rehabilitation in children

“…Similar to Cochlear implantation, where there is basically no age limit, given that the youngest worldwide implanted child was less than 6 months of age, and especially since research showed the importance of early auditory rehabilitation on neurodevelopmental aspects and cortical auditory maturation in CI children. 28 Despite or rather because of the age limit of 5 years or older for the here investigated BB and the long-term…”

“…Similar to Cochlear implantation, where there is basically no age limit, given that the youngest worldwide implanted child was less than 6 months of age, and especially since research showed the importance of early auditory rehabilitation on neurodevelopmental aspects and cortical auditory maturation in CI children. 28 Despite or rather because of the age limit of 5 years or older for the here investigated BB and the long‐term proven efficacy and audiological benefit, our study aimed to compare the satisfaction and quality of life after intervention (invasive vs. noninvasive). Especially, since the research in the past years focused on improving and understanding language and speech perception in children with hearing loss, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 with no studies exploring the impact on the quality of life in children with a Bonebridge or an Adhear.…”

“…The provision of any early hearing intervention, noninvasive as well as invasive, aims to maximize speech and language development (The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2019), and the authors believe that this should be regardless of age. Similar to Cochlear implantation, where there is basically no age limit, given that the youngest worldwide implanted child was less than 6 months of age, and especially since research showed the importance of early auditory rehabilitation on neurodevelopmental aspects and cortical auditory maturation in CI children 28 . Despite or rather because of the age limit of 5 years or older for the here investigated BB and the long‐term proven efficacy and audiological benefit, our study aimed to compare the satisfaction and quality of life after intervention (invasive vs. noninvasive).…”

Communicative and Hearing Performance in Individuals with Cochlear Implants and Delayed Neuropsychomotor Development: A Longitudinal Analysis

“…The CI not only restores auditory function, but also plays an important role in cognitive development. 37,38 Due to the limitation in the sample size of the present study, new studies with larger and multicentric samples are required, because the results of the present sample varied according to the commitment of each patient regarding CI use. Therefore, new studies are needed to make new advances in hearing rehabilitation in patients with other associated disabilities.…”

“…Studies 37 38 have shown that the CI also helps in the development of cognitive skills (general development). It has been observed that children with hearing loss show improvements in their understanding, concentration, sequential processing, and working memory, with almost normal values.…”