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

Abstract

Objectives: The use of cochlear implants in the rehabilitation of hearing-impaired patients is now widely established and offers great benefits for children. To evaluate these benefits, the Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech (EARS®) assessment tool was designed in 1995. The objectives of this study were to assess the auditory perceptual skills in a large paediatric population over time, as well as to provide standardised values. Methods: An international multicentre study was conducted in 35 clinics from 1996 to 2009. During this period, 765 children were assessed with the EARS in 10 test intervals: pre-operative, first fitting and then 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the first fitting and annually thereafter, up to a maximum period of 5 years. Results: The auditory skills improved significantly over time for all speech perception tests and questionnaires as well as between single test intervals: pre-operative to 6 months, 6 months to 1 year and 1 year to 2 years. Standardised values of the children stratified according to their age at implantation were calculated. Conclusions: The auditory perceptual skills significantly improved over time. The standardised values will help professionals set therapeutic goals and counsel parents accordingly.

Relationships Between Reasoning, Verbal Working Memory, and Language in Children with Early Cochlear Implantation: A Mediation Effect

“…This test was used to determine the speech perception of children with cochlear implants and whether the children would be included in the study. This test is a part of the EARS (Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech) Test Battery (Esser-Leyding and Anderson, 2012). The test has two samples, and 10 question sentences.…”

“…Konuşma algısı puanlarının %90 ve üzerinde olması (3) Sözel olmayan zeka puanlarının 85 ve üzerinde olması (4) Evde tek dil kullanılması ve (5) İşitme kaybı dışında tanılanmış ek bir engelin olmamasıdır. Anderson, 2012). Bu testte iki örnek, 10 soru cümlesi bulunmaktadır.…”

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].…”

Effectiveness of cochlear implant in inner ear bone malformations with anterior labyrinth involvement

“…After cochlear implantation and its activation and programming, data were gathered on the THR and MCL (both in microcoulombs) and number of active electrodes. Auditory functionality scores (percentage 0-100% of correct answers) were obtained at 6, 12, and 24 months in the following subtests: LIP profile, MTP 3 words, MTP 6 words, MTP 12 words, OLD (open set test) and CLD (closed set test) from the EARS (evaluation of auditory responses to speech) test battery [12,13], developed by the Department of Clinical Research of MEDEL (Innsbruck, Austria).…”