Speech perception and cortical auditory evoked potentials in cochlear implant users with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the P(1) component of long latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEPs) in cochlear implant users with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) and determine firstly whether they correlate with speech perception performance and secondly whether they correlate with other variables related to cochlear implant use.


METHODS
This study was conducted at the Center for Audiological Research at the University of São Paulo. The sample included 14 pediatric (4-11 years of age) cochlear implant users with ANSD, of both sexes, with profound prelingual hearing loss. Patients with hypoplasia or agenesis of the auditory nerve were excluded from the study. LLAEPs produced in response to speech stimuli were recorded using a Smart EP USB Jr. system. The subjects' speech perception was evaluated using tests 5 and 6 of the Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure (GASP).


RESULTS
The P(1) component was detected in 12/14 (85.7%) children with ANSD. Latency of the P(1) component correlated with duration of sensorial hearing deprivation (*p=0.007, r=0.7278), but not with duration of cochlear implant use. An analysis of groups assigned according to GASP performance (k-means clustering) revealed that aspects of prior central auditory system development reflected in the P(1) component are related to behavioral auditory skills.


CONCLUSIONS
In children with ANSD using cochlear implants, the P(1) component can serve as a marker of central auditory cortical development and a predictor of the implanted child's speech perception performance.
Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru Campus, Brazil. katialv@fob.usp.br
Kátia F
KF
Alvarenga
Raquel Beltrão
RB
Amorim
Raquel Sampaio
RS
Agostinho-Pesse
Orozimbo Alves
OA
Costa
Leandra Tabanez
LT
Nascimento
Maria Cecilia
MC
Bevilacqua
D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006313:Hearing Loss, Central; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*