Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common developmental sensory disorder due to a loss of function within the inner ear or its connections to the brain. While successful intervention for auditory deprivation with hearing amplification and cochlear implants during a sensitive early developmental period can improve spoken-language outcomes, SNHL patients can suffer several cognitive dysfunctions including executive function deficits, visual cognitive impairment, and abnormal visual dominance in speaking perception even after successful intervention. To evaluate whether long association fibers are involved in the pathogenesis of impairment on the extra-auditory cognitive process in SNHL participants, we quantitatively analyzed high-angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) tractography-derived fibers in participants with SNHL. After excluding cases with congenital disorders, perinatal brain damage, or premature birth, we enrolled 17 participants with SNHL aged under 10 years old. Callosal pathways (CP) and six types of cortico-cortical association fibers (arcuate fasciculus [AF], inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], inferior frontooccipital fasciculus [IFOF], uncinate fasciculus [UF], cingulum fasciculus [CF], and fornix [Fx]) in both hemispheres were identified and visualized. The ILF and IFOF were partly undetected in three profound SNHL participants. Compared to age-and gender-matched neurotypical controls (NC), decreased volumes, increased lengths, and high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values without difference in fractional anisotropy (FA) values were identified in multiple types of fibers in the SNHL group. The impairment of long association fibers in SNHL may partly be related to the association of cognitive dysfunction with SNHL. K E Y W O R D S apparent diffusion coefficient, fractional anisotropy, high-angular resolution diffusion imaging, long association fibers, sensorineural hearing loss How to cite this article: Shiohama T, Chew B, Levman J, Takahashi E. Quantitative analyses of high-angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI)derived long association fibers in children with sensorineural hearing loss.

Standardized test scores are often used to measure students' academic success. Although factors that affect student success involve teaching techniques, classroom dynamics, and study skills, there are other factors outside the classroom that could influence students' overall academic performance. Oftentimes, these factors are overlooked or easily deemed uncontrollable by educators. Prior studies have identified and examined such factors; however, for this analysis, we will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse and display spatial patterns of these external factors, such as household income and average household size, which were not previously possible. Utilizing GIS and variations of demographic and lifestyle data allows us to take a closer look into understanding the factors that positively or negatively correlate with academic achievement. We use a sample of 2015-2016 Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores from the California Department of Education and location-based household spending, socioeconomic, and demographic data from Environmental Systems Research Institute, also known as Esri, to develop statistical models in order to understand factors that influence SAT scores. Our results indicate that two parent households and spending on health insurance have a positive effect on student academic achievement. In addition, students that are surrounded by educational businesses score higher on the SAT. We also learn that diversity, household size, and multigenerational households have negative impacts on students' SAT scores.