![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate electrophysiological and audiological findings in a prelingually late implanted patient, in two consecutive follow-ups: 3 months after cochlear implant (CI) activation and 1 year later.
Methods: As an electrophysiological evaluation, the event-related potentials (ERPs) N100, N200-P300 were used. The P300 wave is an objective measure of the central auditory function. It reflects the cortical activity involved during attention, discrimination, memory, integration and decision-making skills and it is a measure of speech discrimination and linguistic recognition. Pure tone audiometry, speech perception tests and electrophysiological examination were performed at 3 and 15 months post-CI activation.
Result and Discussion: The N100 and N200 latencies were very similar in both follow-ups, whereas P300 latency decreased significantly 15 months postactivation, reaching a value close to normality. This finding was related to an increase in audiometric and speech performances.
Conclusion: A significant improvment in electrophysiological, audiometric and speech performances was observed during the second follow-up, underlining the great importance of the duration of device use, in spite of a late implant surgery. These simultaneous improvements can be related to a general increase of superior cognitive functions.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest.