Cochlear implants in special cases: Deafness in the presence of disabilities and/or associated problems

The aim of the present study is to construct a reference model with the indication for the attitude, the requirements and the resources needed in order to be able to deal with deafness in the presence of disabilities or associated problems. The study group consisted of 13 adults and 18 children affected by profound deafness, with associated problems and disabilities, who were implanted with Clarion(R) and Med-El(R) devices. Selection criteria for candidacy to cochlear implantation and counselling, hospitalization, fitting and speech therapy/rehabilitation are described. Findings were assessed evaluating: (i) use of acoustic feedback, on the ground of Erber's model; (ii) self-sufficiency: assessed by a questionnaire; and (iii) social and family relationships: qualitative judgment based on direct observation, analysis of drawings and structured interviews with family, teachers and therapists. The whole group showed benefit from cochlear implantation, with particular satisfaction for post-lingual deaf-blind adults, as well as for subjects with associated psychopathologies and mental retardation. In conclusion, cochlear implants can improve life quality in profoundly deaf subjects with associated disabilities, increasing both listening and communication skills as well as self-sufficiency while family and social relationships tend to remain stable

Short-term study of the effect of speech coding strategy on the auditory performance of Pre and Post-lingually deafened adults implanted with theClarion CII.

Objective - The auditory performance of cochlear implantees is linked to numerous variables, such as audiological characteristics, age and type of speech coding strategy. In recent years, many different ways of processing sounds have been developed, with possible implications for auditory performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra-individual differences of patients for speech perception tasks in quiet and in noise as a result of switching from a standard strategy [Continuous Interleaved Sampling (CIS)/Simultaneous Analog Strategy (SAS)] to Hi-Resolution (HiRes). Material and Methods - A total of 14 post-lingual adults implanted with the Clarion CII® were selected for trials. At switch-on, six patients chose a CIS strategy and eight an SAS strategy. After an average period of 9.3 months, all patients were switched over to HiRes. All patients were tested (open-set mode) with bisyllabic words and sentences, in both quiet and noise [speech/noise ratio (SNR) = +10]. Testing was carried out after an initial period with the CIS/SAS strategy and 3 months after switching over to HiRes. Results - After switch-over a significant improvement was seen for both speech in quiet (words +25.2%, sentences +10.8%) and speech in noise (words 44.8%, sentences 45.4%). Conclusion - Despite individual differences, all patients improved their performance with HiRes use, the greatest improvements being seen under unfavourable listening conditions (SNR = +10). Subjective improvements in speech discrimination and overall sound quality perception were reported even after the first week of HiRes use

Long-Term Follow-Up of Implanted Children with Cytomegalovirus-Related Deafness

Objective: To evaluate, with a long-term follow-up, the speech perception and language development in children with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related deafness after cochlear implantation. Study Design: A retrospective study on CMV-related profound deafness and cochlear implantation was performed from 1995 to 2010. Six children with an average follow-up of 10 years were included in this research. Medical history, imaging, cognitive delay, speech perception and production data were reviewed. Results: Two of the 6 patients developed a functional language with the use of phrases and word sequences based on morphological and syntactic rules; the others demonstrated the development of a preverbal or transitional language with the use of single words only. Conclusion: Patients with CMV-related deafness benefit from cochlear implantation; however, the expectations of the parents must be evaluated in a series of counseling efforts prior to the surgery. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Use of sign language in paediatric cochlear implant users: whys and wherefores.

[No abstract available