108 research outputs found
TNRT profiles with the Nucleus Research Platform 8 system
This study investigates the effect of the Nucleus CI24RE implant's neural response telemetry (NRT) system, which has less internal noise compared to its predecessor, the CI24M/R implant, on the NRT threshold (TNRT) profile across the array. CI24M/R measurements were simulated by ignoring CI24RE measurements with response amplitudes below 50 uV. Comparisons of the estimated TNRTs from the CI24RE measurements and the CI24M/R simulations suggest that, apart from a constant level difference, the TNRT profiles from the newer implant generally would not have differed very much from those of its predecessor. This view was also reflected by principal component analysis (PCA) results which revealed a 'shift' component similar to that reported by Smoorenburg et al (2002). On the whole, there is no indication that current practices of using the TNRT profiles for assisting with speech processor programming need to be revised for the CI24RE implant
A retrospective study of cochlear implant outcomes in children with residual hearing
BACKGROUND: There has been increasing demand for the cochlear implantation of children who demonstrate some auditory capacity with conventional hearing aids. The purpose of this study was to examine speech recognition outcomes in a group of children who were regarded as borderline candidates for cochlear implantation as their residual hearing and/or auditory functioning levels exceeded typical audiologic candidacy criteria. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken at one Canadian cochlear implant centre to identify children implanted at age 4 or older with a pure-tone-average of 90 dB or better and speech recognition of 30% or greater. Pre-implant and post-implant open-set word and sentence test scores were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven children of 195 paediatric cochlear implant recipients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Speech recognition results for the10 English-speaking children indicated significant gains in both open-set word and sentence understanding within the first 6 to 12 months of implant use. Seven of 9 children achieved 80% open-set sentence recognition within 12 months post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Children with several years of experience using conventional amplification demonstrated rapid progress in auditory skills following cochlear implantation. These findings suggest that cochlear implantation may be an appropriate intervention for selected children with severe hearing losses and/or auditory capacity outside current candidacy criteria
Pediatric cochlear implantation: an update
Deafness in pediatric age can adversely impact language acquisition as well as educational and social-emotional
development. Once diagnosed, hearing loss should be rehabilitated early; the goal is to provide the child with
maximum access to the acoustic features of speech within a listening range that is safe and comfortable. In presence
of severe to profound deafness, benefit from auditory amplification cannot be enough to allow a proper language
development. Cochlear implants are partially implantable electronic devices designed to provide profoundly deafened
patients with hearing sensitivity within the speech range. Since their introduction more than 30 years ago, cochlear
implants have improved their performance to the extent that are now considered to be standard of care in the
treatment of children with severe to profound deafness. Over the years patient candidacy has been expanded and
the criteria for implantation continue to evolve within the paediatric population. The minimum age for implantation
has progressively reduced; it has been recognized that implantation at a very early age (12–18 months) provides
children with the best outcomes, taking advantage of sensitive periods of auditory development. Bilateral implantation
offers a better sound localization, as well as a superior ability to understand speech in noisy environments than unilateral
cochlear implant. Deafened children with special clinical situations, including inner ear malformation, cochlear nerve
deficiency, cochlear ossification, and additional disabilities can be successfully treated, even thogh they require
an individualized candidacy evaluation and a complex post-implantation rehabilitation. Benefits from cochlear
implantation include not only better abilities to hear and to develop speech and language skills, but also improved
academic attainment, improved quality of life, and better employment status. Cochlear implants permit deaf people
to hear, but they have a long way to go before their performance being comparable to that of the intact human ear;
researchers are looking for more sophisticated speech processing strategies as well as a more efficient coupling
between the electrodes and the cochlear nerve with the goal of dramatically improving the quality of sound of
the next generation of implants
Clinical evaluation of silicone gel in the treatment of cleft lip scars.
Upper lip scars are at risk of hypertrophy. Our center therefore uses microporous tape and silicone sheeting for postoperative scar care following cleft lip repair. However, some babies have previously ingested their silicone sheeting, which has the potential for respiratory compromise or gastrointestinal obstruction. Self-dry silicone gel is reportedly also effective for preventing hypertrophic scars. Hence, we sought to test whether silicone gel, which cannot be ingested whole, might be non-inferior to silicone sheeting for controlling against upper lip scar hypertrophy. This was a mixed prospective and retrospective case-controlled clinical trial involving patients undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair, 29 of whom received standard postoperative silicone sheeting (control group) and another 33 age-matched consecutive patients who received self-dry silicone instead. The Vancouver scar scale, visual analogue scale and photographically assessed scar width assessments were the same in both groups at six months after surgery. In conclusion, silicone gel appears to be non-inferior to silicone sheeting for postoperative care of upper lip scars as judged by scar quality at six months, but silicone sheeting has the safety disadvantage that it can be swallowed whole by babies. It is thus recommended that silicone gel be used for upper lip scar management in babies.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Additional Link above to access the full-text via the publisher's site
Philosophy and Information Systems: Where are We and Where Should We Go?
The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version
Variables pertinent to successful habilitation of delayed cochlear implantation in prelingual children
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