title: Cochlear implantation in autistic children with profound sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cochlear implants have become the method of choice for the treatment of severe-to-profound hearing loss in both children and adults. Its benefits are well documented in the pediatric and adult population. Also deaf children with additional needs, including autism, have been covered by this treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the benefits from cochlear implantation in deafened children with autism as the only additional disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzes data of six children. The follow-up time was at least 43 months. The following data were analyzed: medical history, reaction to music and sound, Ling's six sounds test, onomatopoeic word test, reaction to spoken child's name, response to requests, questionnaire given to parents, sound processor fitting sessions and data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After cochlear implantation each child presented other communication skills. In some children, the symptoms of speech understanding were observed. No increased hyperactivity associated with daily use cochlear implant was observed. The study showed that in autistic children the perception is very important for a child's sense of security and makes contact with parents easier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that oral communication is not likely to be a realistic goal in children with cochlear implants and autism. The implantation results showed benefits that varied among those children. The traditional methods of evaluating the results of cochlear implantation in children with autism are usually insufficient to fully assess the functional benefits. These benefits should be assessed in a more comprehensive manner taking into account the limitations of communication resulting from the essence of autism. It is important that we share knowledge about these complex children with cochlear implants.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw, Hearing Implants Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: mlachowska@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lachowska
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw, Hearing Implants Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pastuszka
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw, Hearing Implants Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Zuzanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Łukaszewicz-Moszyńska
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw, Hearing Implants Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mikołajewska
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw, Hearing Implants Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niemczyk
keywords: Aparelho auditivo; Austism; Autismo; Cochlear implant; Hearing aid; Hearing loss; Implante coclear; Percepção da fala; Perda de audição; Speech perception