Assessment of Auditory Skills in 140 Cochlear Implant Children Using the EARS Protocol

Abstract

Auditory performance of cochlear implant (CI) children was assessed with the Listening Progress Profile (LiP) and the Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic-Word Test (MTP) following the EARS protocol. Additionally, the ‘initial drop’ phenomenon, a recently reported decrease of auditory performance occurring immediately after first fitting, was investigated. Patients were 140 prelingually deafened children from various clinics and centers worldwide implanted with a MEDEL COMBI 40/40+. Analysis of LiP data showed a significant increase after 1 month of CI use compared to preoperative scores (p < 0.01). No initial decrease was observed with this test. Analysis of MTP data revealed a significant improvement of word recognition after 6 months (p < 0.01), with a significant temporary decrease after initial fitting (p < 0.01). With both tests, children’s auditory skills improved up to 2 years. Amount of improvement was negatively correlated with age at implantation.

Assessment of Speech Development in Children with Cochlear Implants in Republic of Macedonia Using Monosyllabic-Troche-Polysyllabic Test (Closed-Set)

“…Speech improvement and development after cochlear implantation has been confirmed by numerous studies which results suggest that cochlear implant increases speech reception and perception skills to a degree that is not possible to be achieved with amplifying hearing aids [6][7][8][9][10].…”

EARS® (Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech): An Internationally Validated Assessment Tool for Children Provided with Cochlear Implants

“…Furthermore, Sainz et al [16] reported continuously improved speech perception up to the 2-year test interval, Tyler et al [17] even reported that their prelingually deaf children continued to improve speech perception after 4 years of implant use, and Nikolopoulos et al [18] reported improvement over a period of up to 6 years. In contrast to Sainz et al [16] , who reported that, although improvement did not stagnate, it slowed down after 3-6 months of device use, the results of all speech perception tests and question- [16] , however, reported on an initial drop in the MTP test across all age groups, thus invalidating Allum's hypothesis that this initial drop might be due to an 'auditory conflict' based on the fact that children implanted at an older age dropped more than children implanted at a younger age [4] . Sainz et al [16] offered the alternative explanation that the phenomenon of 'initial drop' might be based on not yet optimized device fitting.…”

Listening skill progress in children with cochlear implants in the first three months after implantation

“…[13][14][15] Auditory performance of cochlear implanted (CI) children was assessed with the Listening Progress Profile (LiP) and the Monosyllabic-Trochee-PolysyllabicWord Test (MTP) following the EARS protocol on 140 prelingually deafened children from various clinics and centers worldwide implanted with a MEDEL COMBI 40/40+ where the analysis of LiP data showed a significant increase of auditory performance after one month of CI use compared to preoperative scores (p<0.01). 16 Analysis of MTP data revealed a significant improvement of word recognition after 6 months (p<0.01), thus with both tests, children's auditory skills improved up to 2 years and the amount of improvement was negatively correlated with age at implantation. Anderson et al evaluated outcomes of 37 children implanted under the age of two and compared them to children implanted at a later age.…”