Postural control characterization according to age and auditory input in cochlear implant users.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Balance motor control relies on sensory integration, including auditory input.
• Cochlear implants (CI) restore hearing but their impact on balance is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between auditory input from cochlear implants and balance motor control in prelingual and postlingual users.
• To assess how cochlear implant use affects postural sway and energy consumption.

Main Methods:

• Posturography on a force platform was used to test 12 prelingual adolescent and 12 adult postlingual cochlear implant users.
• Energy consumption (EC) of the center of pressure sway signal was measured with CI on and off, analyzed in low (0-0.1 Hz), medium (0.1-1 Hz), and high (1-2 Hz) frequency bands.
• Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.

Main Results:

• Prelingual users showed decreased EC in low and high frequencies with CI on during adolescence (P < 0.05), with no change when CI was off.
• Postlingual users exhibited age-related deterioration in postural responses (PR) with CI off (P < 0.05 in band 1).
• With CI on, postlingual users showed no significant increase in age-related deterioration.

Conclusions:

• Acoustic input from cochlear implants improves energy consumption of postural responses across different frequencies in both adolescents and aging adults.
• This suggests a significant relationship between auditory input and the gross and fine motor movements essential for postural control.