Abstract
To verify the influence of the age of implantation in the development of closed-set auditory recognition and auditory comprehension abilities in children using unilateral cochlear implants (CI), comparing distinct groups and determining clinical markers. Participants were 180 children operated and activated until 36 months of age and who used a CI for at least 60 months. Abilities of auditory recognition in closed-set and auditory comprehension were analyzed through the GASP Tests 5 and 6. The influence of age of implantation was investigated with three groups of children: implanted before 18 months (G1), between 19 and 24 months (G2) and between 25 and 36 months of age (G3). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing the three groups. Children progressively developed auditory abilities, presenting auditory recognition ability together at approximately 41±4 months of CI use and auditory comprehension at 53±4 months. There was no correlation between hearing performance and age of implantation for children implanted before 36 months of age. For the abilities of auditory recognition and comprehension, the clinical marker was 41±4 and 53±4 months of auditory age, respectively. Therefore, it is expected that, around 60 months of CI use, children implanted during the sensitive period can understand speech without the aid of orofacial reading, reaching the most complex hearing abilities.
Highlights
Hearing loss in childhood affects the development of auditory perception of speech and language, causing negative impacts on children’s communication, their interaction with the social environment and their global development
The present is a retrospective longitudinal study, with an evaluation of the data obtained by checking the medical records of 1,214 children with Cochlear implantation (CI) who are regularly enrolled in the Cochlear Implant Section of the Audiological Research Center of the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies of the University of São Paulo, from January 1990 to January 2015
It should be noted that the use of Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure (GASP) Tests 5 and 6 occurred in children with a chronological age of less than 60 months, it was developed for children with profound hearing loss over five years of age, having as reference at the time it was developed in 1982 the use of individual sound amplification devices (AASI)(18,19)
Summary
Hearing loss in childhood affects the development of auditory perception of speech and language, causing negative impacts on children’s communication, their interaction with the social environment and their global development. To minimize such consequences, the importance of early detection and intervention is emphasized[1,2,3,4]. Cochlear implantation (CI) is an effective alternative for the treatment of hearing loss of severe or deep degrees, especially when performed in the first years of life, as it promotes the development of auditory abilities and, favors the acquisition of language spoken[5,6,7,8]. Studies that correlated auditory performance with the age of CI surgery demonstrated that children who were implanted before 12 months[9,10], 18 months[11], 24 months[12,13] and 36 months of age[14,15] presented superior auditory abilities when compared to those operated later[16,17].
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