EARS® (Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech): an internationally validated assessment tool for children provided with cochlear implants.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Cochlear Implant Centrum Wilhelm Hirte, Gehaegestrasse 28–30, Hannover, Germany. esser-leyding@hka.de
Barbara
B
Esser-Leyding
Ilona
I
Anderson
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome