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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
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Factors Contributing to Speech Performance in Elderly Cochlear Implanted Patients: An FDG-PET Study: A Preliminary
Myung-Whan Suh1, Kyung Tae Park, Hyo-Jung Lee
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. drmung@naver.com.
The Journal of International Advanced Otology
|September 19, 2015
Summary
Brain metabolism in visual areas predicts poor outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) in elderly patients. Those with higher visual processing activity may not benefit as much from CI speech rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cochlear implantation (CI) offers hearing restoration for postlingual deafness.
- Understanding brain plasticity is crucial for optimizing CI outcomes in elderly individuals.
- Postlingual deafness impacts speech performance, with varying results after CI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain plasticity related to speech performance in elderly postlingual deaf patients after CI.
- To identify pre-operative brain metabolism patterns associated with CI success.
Main Methods:
- Included 15 elderly postlingual deaf patients (>60 years) with pre-operative FDG-PET scans.
- Assessed speech performance 1 year post-CI, classifying patients into good and poor performers.
- Analyzed brain metabolism using SPM5, correlating it with deafness duration, age, and speech scores.
Main Results:
- Deafness duration and preoperative hearing did not significantly correlate with speech performance.
- Higher pre-operative metabolism in frontotemporal regions predicted good CI outcomes.
- Elevated metabolism in visual association areas correlated with poor CI outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative overactivation in visual processing pathways is linked to poorer CI outcomes.
- Elderly patients with poor CI outcomes may rely more on visual processing during preoperative rest.

