Outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with Usher syndrome: a long-term observation.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate auditory performance and speech intelligibility of children with Usher syndrome up to 10 years after cochlear implantation.

METHODS:

Thirty-five children with USH were compared to 46 non-syndromic patients regarding age at implantation. Auditory performance and speech intelligibility was assessed with standard tools. Genetic counseling, vestibular tests, imaging studies, and ophthalmological findings were evaluated, depending on the availability.

RESULTS:

The mean age of implantation in USH children was 6.3 years (SD 4.6, range 0.3-17.6 years). Post-implantation values of the studied parameters were compared between USH and NS children and presented as follows: PTA = 25.0 dB HL vs. 28.4, CAP = 5.3 vs. 5.1, SIR = 4.1 vs. 3.9, MAIS = 82.3% vs. 80.5%, MUSS = 81.8% vs. 76.6%. There were no statistically significant differences between the USH and NS groups (p > 0.005). USH patients reached a higher score ceiling earlier compared to NS patients. Children implanted before 3 years of age achieved significantly higher results than older children in USH and NS groups (p < 0.005). In all patients with USH, the electroretinogram was abnormal. Vestibular examination was abnormal in 29 of 31 patients with USH1. Imaging studies revealed no inner ear or auditory nerve anomalies in patients with USH.

CONCLUSION:

Cochlear implantation successfully improves auditory performance and speech intelligibility in patients with USH, especially those implanted under 3 years of age. The electroretinogram is the only reliable test to establish a diagnosis of USH. Logopedic outcomes are associated with early implantation, and early diagnosis of USH contributes to optimizing speech therapy.

• Authors: Agnieszka Remjasz-Jurek, Pedro Clarós, Astrid Clarós-Pujol, Carmen Pujol, Andrés Clarós
• Journal: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 280 Issue 5 Pg. 2119-2132 (May 2023) ISSN: 1434-4726 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 36242610 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Topics

• Child
• Humans
• Adolescent
• Infant
• Child, Preschool
• Cochlear Implantation (methods)
• Usher Syndromes (surgery)
• Cochlear Implants
• Speech Perception (physiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Speech Intelligibility (physiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Deafness