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Updated: May 10, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Young cochlear implant users' auditory development as measured and monitored by the LittlEARS® Auditory
Julie Kosaner1, Samime Sonuguler, Levent Olgun
1MED-EL Worldwide Headquarters, Fuerstenweg 77a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. julie.kosaner@meders.com.tr
Insights
The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire effectively tracks audiological development in Turkish children with cochlear implants, showing significant progress over time. This tool aids in monitoring auditory skills and parental reassurance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Cochlear Implant Technology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Cochlear implantation is a critical intervention for pediatric hearing loss.
- Assessing audiological development in young children post-implantation is essential for effective management.
- Standardized tools are needed to monitor progress in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) for assessing audiological development in Turkish children who have undergone cochlear implantation.
- To compare the progress of implanted children with age-related norms.
Main Methods:
- The study included 20 children implanted before age three.
- The LEAQ was administered at device fitting and every 3 months for 2 years.
- Scores were benchmarked against normative data from hearing children.
Main Results:
- All participants demonstrated significant improvements in LEAQ scores over the 2-year period.
- The majority of children achieved auditory skill development comparable to their hearing peers.
- Children without additional special needs exhibited greater developmental gains than those with additional needs.
Conclusions:
- The LEAQ is a valuable tool for monitoring audiological progress in pediatric cochlear implant users.
- It provides reassurance to parents during the critical pre-verbal developmental stages.
- The LEAQ can serve as an early warning system, prompting investigation into factors hindering a child's auditory development.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the usefulness of the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) in determining the audiological development of Turkish children who have received a cochlear implant.
Methods:
20 children received a cochlear implant before their 3rd birthday. Each child's progress was evaluated with the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire at first device fitting and then at 3-month intervals for 2 years. Scores were compared with the age-related norms established by hearing children.
Results:
All children showed a significant increase in LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire scores over time. Nearly all children showed a growth in auditory skills similar to that of hearing children. Children without additional needs showed more development than did children with additional needs.
Conclusions:
The LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire is useful for monitoring the audiological development of young children with a cochlear implant. Confirmation that a cochlear implant user is achieving typical auditory milestones serves to boost parental morale during a child's pre-verbal stage when parents may be anxious about their child's ability to talk. The questionnaire could also be useful as an early warning system. Poor scores likely indicate that something is impeding the child's development. This should prompt professionals to try to identify the impediment, whether technical, medical, social or educational and, possibly, eliminate/mitigate its effects while the child is still in his/her critical development stages.
