Mo L

The effects of age at cochlear implantation and hearing aid trial on auditory performance of Chinese infants

Abstract Conclusion: Most of the infants demonstrated rapid improvement in the three different auditory skills within the first year after switch-on. Infants undergoing hearing aid trial and habilitation demonstrated a significant positive effect on the development of auditory skills in comparison with infants without trial and habilitation. Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the auditory performance of infants of different age at cochlear implantation, emphasize the importance of the hearing aid trial and habilitation before implant, and provide baseline data of auditory development. Methods: In all, 259 infants with prelingually profound hearing loss participated in this study. The Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) was used to assess auditory skills in infants at different intervals. Results: The mean scores for the auditory skills improved significantly over time. The mean scores of three skills for each group at each interval were significantly different. The mean scores of the auditory skills were significantly superior for infants undergoing hearing aid trial and habilitation in comparison with those of infants without hearing aid trial and habilitation.

Comparisons between Neural Response Imaging thresholds, electrically evoked auditory reflex thresholds and most comfortable loudness levels in CII Bionic Ear users with HiResolution™ sound processing strategies

Conclusions. The data collected in this study indicated that first Neural Response Imaging (NRI) thresholds had a better correlation with HiResolution™ most comfortable loudness (M) levels than tNRI thresholds. Electrically evoked auditory reflex thresholds (EARTs) had a higher correlation with HiResolution M levels than tNRI thresholds and a lower correlation than first NRI thresholds. NRI is a very useful method for programming the cochlear implants of young children who cannot demonstrate a reliable judgment of loudness. Objective. To investigate how HiResolution sound processing, designed to deliver high-rate stimuli, relates to EARTs and electrically evoked compound action potential measurements produced by low-rate stimuli. Material and methods. Nine profoundly hearing-impaired children and adults aged 6–29 years participated in the study. NRI responses were elicited using pulse trains consisting of biphasic pulses at a pulse width per phase of 32 µs delivered at a frequency of 30 Hz using SoundWave programming software. Stimuli were delivered to the odd electrodes (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15) along the array. tNRI (NRI threshold) and first NRI thresholds were recorded for each stimulating electrode. “Speech bursts” stimuli used in EARTs recording were delivered to four electrodes at a time and stapedial reflexes were recorded from the impedance bridge. The M levels used were those used by each patient in their everyday HiResolution programs. Results. For 8 patients (53 stimulating electrodes) the correlation between tNRI threshold and M level was r = 0.675 (p = 0.000) and that between first NRI thresholds and M level was r=0.741 (p = 0.000). On average the M-level value was 20 CU (Current Unit) lower than the first NRI threshold value and 12 CU higher than the tNRI threshold value. The M-level patterns across the electrode array overall were similar to the tNRI or first NRI threshold patterns. For 7 patients (112 stimulating electrodes) the correlation between EART and M levels was r=0.710 (p = 0.000). On average the EART value was 14 CU higher than the M-level value.

The development of auditory skills in infants with isolated Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome after cochlear implantation

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the auditory performance of infants with isolated Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (LVAS) after cochlear implantation, compare their performance with those of infants with a normal inner ear, and establish a database of auditory development. METHOD 435 infants with congenital severe to profound hearing loss participated in this study. 62 infants in group A were diagnosed with isolated LVAS. 373 infants in group B had a normal inner ear. Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) was used to evaluate the development of auditory skills. RESULTS The mean scores for auditory ability showed no significant difference between groups A and B. The mean scores for the three different auditory skills increased significantly over time. The differences were statistically significant in mean scores among the three different auditory skills for group B. CONCLUSION Auditory skills of infants with isolated LVAS developed rapidly after cochlear implantation, in a similar manner to those of infants with a normal inner ear. Cochlear implantation is an effective interventional approach and an established therapeutic option for infants with isolated LVAS.