Perspectives on Hearing and Hearing Disorders in Childhood

Coordinator's Column

Hutsell, G. — 2009-03-01

Contemporary Protocols for Evaluating Cochlear Implant Candidacy of Children

Zwolan, T. A., Thomas, E. — 2009-03-01

Candidacy criteria for determination of cochlear implantation for children have changed significantly since cochlear implants were first introduced. The contemporary evaluation process includes initial consultation, audiological assessment, speech and language assessment, preoperative counseling, selection of the ear to implant, medical evaluation, and additional assessments as needed. Ideally, an interdisciplinary team of professionals is involved in this evaluation process. The following article discusses procedures used in our clinic to determine a child's candidacy for a cochlear implant.

Auditory Evoked Potentials and Cochlear Implants: Research Findings and Clinical Applications in Children

Purdy, S. C, Gardner-Berry, K. — 2009-03-01

Auditory evoked potentials can be used to objectively assess hearing sensitivity, central auditory processing, and neural encoding of speech sounds up to the level of the auditory cortex. Evoked potentials have been of interest to clinicians and researchers in the cochlear implant field for a long time because of their potential for objectively predicting cochlear implant outcomes, as well as improving candidacy determination, and implant programming. Neural response telemetry and intra-operative electrical auditory brainstem recording have been routinely performed by implant programs for many years. Recently, there has been great interest in potential clinical applications of cortical auditory evoked potentials in the implant field. Research and clinical applications are reviewed and case studies are presented that illustrate clinical applications of cortical evoked potentials in children before and after implantation.

Medical and Surgical Evaluation Prior to Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Adunka, O. F., Buchman, C. A. — 2009-03-01

The evaluation of children for cochlear implantation requires a multidisciplinary effort among several groups of professionals. Given the recent trend towards very early identification of hearing loss, clinicians have begun to evaluate these children and make intervention recommendations in the first few months of life. In addition to an accurate audiological assessment, a search for the etiology of the hearing loss as well as associated medical conditions is critical and frequently affects the management paradigm. The evaluation usually requires a number of studies, including imaging of the temporal bones and brain, electrocardiograms, genetic testing, and careful review of medical records. The timely identification, and management of, confounding otological problems such as otitis externa and otitis media is frequently needed. This presentation will focus on an otologist's perspective in the multidisciplinary evaluation prior to the implantation process.

Current Practices in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Bradham, T. S., Snell, G., Haynes, D. — 2009-03-01

Technological advances, specifically cochlear implants, have significantly impacted the treatment of children with severe to profound hearing loss. There are, however, very few professional guidelines or resources providing direction for hearing healthcare providers who are serving children with cochlear implants. The following article discusses a comprehensive management protocol for interdisciplinary teams providing cochlear implant services for children.

Pediatric Assessment of Nonlinguistic Sound Perception: A Look Back and a Look Ahead to a Pediatric Nonlinguistic Sounds Test

Inverso, Y. — 2009-03-01

The overwhelming majority of test measures to assess adult and pediatric cochlear implant candidacy, efficacy, and progress are based on speech perception. Nonlinguistic sounds have received comparatively little attention, despite their central importance for incidental learning, daily living and environmental sound awareness. The purpose of this review is to: 1. Highlight the importance of nonlinguistic sound perception, 2. Discuss currently available pediatric nonlinguistic sound perception profiles and behavioral measures, and 3. Describe both the Nonlinguistic Sounds Test (NLST) for adults and adolescents as well as the pediatric Picture-identification Nonlinguistic sounds Inventory for Children (PicNIC).