title: Auditory neuropathy/Auditory dyssynchrony in children with Cochlear Implants.
abstract: The electrical stimulation generated by the Cochlear Implant (CI) may improve the neural synchrony and hence contribute to the development of auditory skills in patients with Auditory Neuropathy/Auditory Dyssynchrony (AN/AD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Prospective cohort cross-sectional study to evaluate the auditory performance and the characteristics of the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) in 18 children with AN/AD and cochlear implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The auditory perception was evaluated by sound field thresholds and speech perception tests. To evaluate ECAP's characteristics, the threshold and amplitude of neural response were evaluated at 80 Hz and 35 Hz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant statistical difference was found concerning the development of auditory skills. The ECAP's characteristics differences at 80 and 35 Hz stimulation rate were also not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CI was seen as an efficient resource to develop auditory skills in 94% of the AN/AD patients studied. The auditory perception benefits and the possibility to measure ECAP showed that the electrical stimulation could compensate for the neural dyssynchrony caused by the AN/AD. However, a unique clinical procedure cannot be proposed at this point. Therefore, a careful and complete evaluation of each AN/AD patient before recommending a Cochlear Implant is advised. Clinical Trials: NCT01023932.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral degree, speech therapy at the Núcleo do Ouvido Biônico (Bionic Ear Center), São Paulo Samaritan Hospital.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Martinho
authors.initials: ACM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Full professor, São Paulo University.
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.affiliation: Associate professor, São Paulo University.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sameshima
authors.affiliation: Full professor, São Paulo University.
authors.forename: Orozimbo Alves Costa
authors.initials: OAC
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000160:Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*