Central auditory development in children with bilateral cochlear implants.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the time course of maturation of P1 latencies in infant sequential and simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant recipients.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Pediatric collaborative cochlear implant program.


METHODS
Four children who received bilateral cochlear implants prior to age 2 years.


METHODS
Cortical auditory evoked potential was completed to determine the latency of the P1 response in 4 children with bilateral cochlear implants.


METHODS
Longitudinal development of the latency of the P1 cortical auditory evoked potential in children who received bilateral cochlear implants prior to age 2 years.


RESULTS
In 2 patients who received sequential bilateral implants, P1 latencies recorded from the first implanted ear were within normal limits after 3 to 6 months of implant use. By comparison, P1 latencies from the second implanted ear reached normal limits as early as 1 month after implant use. In 2 patients who received simultaneous bilateral implants, P1 latencies from both ears were also within normal limits in a very short time frame (ie, by 1 month poststimulation).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a high degree of plasticity of the central auditory pathways after early bilateral implantation. We find that P1 latencies provide a clinically useful biomarker of central auditory system development in children after cochlear implantation.
Bauer
Paul W
PW
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75230, USA. bauer@entforchildren.net
Sharma
Anu
A
Martin
Kathryn
K
Dorman
Michael
M
D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011930:Reaction Time