Changes of P1 Latencies of Children with Normal Hearing and Those with Cochlear Implants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the age-related latency interval of P1 latencies of children with normal hearing, and to evaluate the P1 latency changes after surgery in children who underwent cochlear implantation. METHOD: We evaluated 60 children with normal hearing and 16 with cochlear implants aged 0-6 years using cortical auditory evoked potentials. P1 latencies were measured only once in the children with normal hearing, and on the postoperative first day, and the first, third, and sixth postoperative months in the children with cochlear implants. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the P1 latencies as the age increased in children with normal hearing (p<0.001). It was determined that on the when the external part of the cochlear implant was applied, the P1 latencies of children with cochlear implants were significantly longer than the age-matched children with normal hearing (p<0.001). This difference disappeared in 10 children with implants at the third and sixth months, but significant differences remained in six children. CONCLUSION: P1 latency could be used as an objective tool to evaluate the normal development of auditory pathways, and may be helpful in the effective programming of children undergoing cochlear implantation.