title: [The effects of hearing level on auditory performance in infants with hearing aids].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of hearing level on auditory performance in infants with hearing aids and provide a clinical database for their hearing and speech habilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 infants with prelingual hearing loss participated in this study, ranging in age at hearing aid fitting from 3 to 34 months with a mean of 16 months. According to their hearing level, they were divided into three groups. Infants in group A were with moderate hearing loss (41-60 dB HL). Infants in group B were with severe hearing loss (61-80 dB HL). Infants in group C were with profound hearing loss (>81 dB HL). The infant-toddler meaningful auditory integration scale (IT-MAIS) was used to evaluate their auditory performance. The evaluation was performed before hearing aid fitting and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores of auditory performance showed significant improvements with time of hearing aid use for the three groups of infants (P < 0.05). The mean score of auditory performance for group A at 3 months after fitting was significantly superior in comparison with the scores before hearing aid fitting and at 1 month after fitting (P < 0.05). The mean score of auditory performance for group B at 6 months after fitting was significantly superior in comparison with the scores before hearing aid fitting and at 1, 3 months after fitting (P < 0.05). The mean score of auditory performance for group C at 9 months after fitting was significantly superior in comparison with the scores before hearing aid fitting and at 1, 3, 6 months after fitting (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean scores between group A and B at each evaluating interval (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed between group A and C at 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also shown between group B and C at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months after fitting (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Auditory performance of infants with prelingual hearing loss developed significantly with the use of hearing aids within the first year after fitting. The degree of hearing loss in infants had significant influence on the development of auditory performance.
authors: Beijing Tongren Hospital,Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Capital Medical University) Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100730, China. xueqingchen@sohu.com
authors: Xueqing
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Yanjun
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Haihong
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Kong
authors: Sha
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Lingyan
authors: L
authors: Mo
authors: Beier
authors: B
authors: Qi
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male