Hearing performance and atypical behavior in childrens with cochlear implants

Abstract

The differential diagnosis between hearing loss and autism relies on audiological tests and clinical observation of the child’s behavior. The child’s behavior can be estimated by using scales such as the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). The objective of this study is to analyze whether atypical behaviors associated with hearing loss can affect the development of auditory skills after cochlear implant (CI). This is a hybrid (prospective and retrospective) observational study in which children with sensorineural hearing loss severe to profound bilateral congenital; multichannel CI recipients with systematic use of the CI for at least 3 months were included. Children were excluded if they had partial insertion of electrodes; change in impedance of the electrodes; malformation of the inner ear and/or auditory nerve; Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. Twenty seven children were selected. Aided thresholds (with hearing aids in the pre-implant evaluation and with cochlear implants in the post-implant evaluation) as well as the auditory performance through IT-MAIS/MAIS in both pre and post-evaluations were collected. Prospectively, the mothers responded to the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC – Portuguese version ICA). There was no significant correlation between the ABC and the evolution of audiometric thresholds and IT-MAIS/MAIS. It was observed that the average audiometric thresholds improved considerably after the CI in the assessed group. The same occurred with the questionnaire IT-MAIS/MAIS. Through the ICA survey, we obtained the presence of three subjects with abnormal scores. The development of listening skills can be expected as a result of CI even in children with general atypical behaviors associated with severe to profound bilateral deafness.