Longitudinal study of the early prelingual auditory development of children with cochlear implants

: Objective:To explore the early prelingual auditory development (EPLAD) of children with cochlear implants.Method:Children with cochlear implants switched on at 1 and 2 years old in our center were recruited in this longitudinal study, and the EPLAD of them would be tested with the ITMAIS at 3months, 6months, and 12months after switch on. Each children could be permitted to miss follow-up one time.Result:Seventy-five children with unilateral cochlear implants were recruited in the study, and divided into 2 age groups according to the age at switch on,1 year group (32 children) and 2 years group (43 children). The EPLAD of children in both groups improved as the time they wore the cochlear implants increased. The speeds of improvement in both groups were similar to that of normal children and faster than those of children with different hearing impairments and without any interventions. The mean total score at 12 months after switch on in 1 year groups could achieve the average level of mild hearing impaired peer without interventions. In addition, the total scores in both groups were significantly different at 3 months after switch on(P 0.05).Conclusion:Cochlear implant could help the children with profound sensorineural hearing loss to improve the abilities of EPLAD, and the speed of improvement in the 12 months after switch on was similar to that of normal children. And the results also indicated that the mean total scores at 12 months after switch on in both groups could be close to or achieve the average level of mild hearing impaired peer without interventions, it provided evidences to us for counseling and rehabilitation exercise. In addition, the result, total scores in both groups were just significantly different at 3 months after switch on, emphasized the importance of early intervention as well.