Auditory and verbal skills development post-cochlear implantation in Mandarin children with auditory neuropathy: a follow-up study

Abstract

Background

Cochlear implant (CI) is commonly used as one of the interventions in auditory neuropathy (AN) children. However, there are limited studies regarding the efficiency of CI in AN children.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the auditory and verbal skills development between the AN and typically developing (TD) children with CI.

Methods

The follow-up study compared the post-CI scores of questionnaires of AN and TD children about auditory and verbal skills development at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months of CI use.

Results

The results of auditory perception in AN and TD groups showed a significant improvement after first 3 months. Furthermore, the score was significantly lower in AN group after 18 months of CI use. The results of verbal skills in AN group showed a progressive trend after 9 months of CI use. Besides, the scores were significantly lower in AN group after 12 months of CI use.

Conclusion and significance

The auditory perception development in AN children with CI was rapidly improved during first 3 months, and verbal skills showed a trend of improvement after 9 months of CI use. However, the differences in auditory and verbal skills between AN and TD groups increased over time.

Chinese Abstract

背景：人工耳蜗 (CI) 通常用作听神经疾病 (AN) 儿童的干预措施之一。然而, 关于 CI 对AN 儿童的效率的研究还很有限。

目的：本研究旨在比较带CI的 AN儿童和正常发育（TD）儿童之间的听觉和语言技能发展。

方法：随访研究比较AN和TD儿童的CI后问卷得分, 即, 植入 CI 0、1、2、3、6、9、12 和 18 个月时的听觉和语言技能发展。

结果：AN和TD组的听觉感知结果显示出前 3 个月后的显著改善。在 CI 使用18 个月后, AN 组的得分显著降低。 AN组在CI 使用9个月后语言表达能力结果呈递进趋势。使用 CI 12 个月后, AN 组的得分显著降低。

结论与意义：带CI的AN患儿的听觉感知发展在前3个月迅速提高, CI使用9个月后语言能力有提高的趋势。然而, 随着时间的推移, AN 组和 TD 组在听觉和语言技能方面的差异增加了。

Keywords:

• Auditory neuropathy
• cochlear implant
• children
• auditory and verbal skills

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, China [H2018316006]; The Special Fund of the Pediatric Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Hospitals Authority [XTYB201826]; Beijing Talents Project (2019); Beijing Health Technologies Promotion Program [BHTPP202045].