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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages

Published on: March 24, 2023

[Development of hearing, speech and language in congenitally deaf infants and children after cochlear implantation]

Kimitaka Kaga1, Yukiko Shinjo, Tatsuya Yamasoba

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.

No to Hattatsu = Brain and Development
|September 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early detection and intervention are crucial for congenital deafness. Cochlear implants offer excellent outcomes for hearing, speech, and language development in children.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatrics
  • Speech and Hearing Sciences

Context:

  • Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) implementation in Japan since 2000.
  • Delayed diagnosis in infants not undergoing UNHS (average age 2 years vs. 5 months).
  • Established audiological rehabilitation pathways including hearing aids and speech therapy.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of current audiological interventions for congenital deafness in Japan.
  • To highlight the role of cochlear implantation in improving outcomes for deaf neonates.
  • To assess the long-term speech, language, and cognitive development post-intervention.

Summary:

  • Congenital deafness diagnosis in Japan improved with partial UNHS, but delays persist for unscreened infants.
  • Hearing aids and specialized preschools are standard, with cochlear implantation as a key technological intervention.
  • Cochlear implantation demonstrates excellent results, enabling children to achieve verbal IQ comparable to normal-hearing peers by school enrollment.

Impact:

  • Cochlear implantation is identified as the most significant current treatment for congenital deafness.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention, particularly cochlear implantation, significantly enhance developmental trajectories for deaf children.
  • The study underscores the importance of comprehensive audiological care and advanced surgical options for pediatric hearing loss.

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