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Published on: January 9, 2019
Auditory Brainstem Implants-Hearing Restoration in Congenitally Deaf Children
Robert Behr1, Konrad Schwager, Erich Hofmann
1University Medicine Marburg Campus Fulda, Clinic for Neurosurgery; University Medicine Marburg Campus Fulda, Clinic for ear, nose and throat diseases, head, neck and plastic facial surgery, communication disorders (hearing, voice and speech disorders); University Medicine Marburg Campus Fulda, Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
Auditory brainstem implants (ABI) offer a safe and effective solution for children with sensorineural deafness when cochlear implants are not feasible. Early implantation in children without additional impairments significantly improves spoken language understanding.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Cochlear implants (CI) aid deaf children in hearing and speaking.
- Auditory brainstem implants (ABI) are the sole surgical option for auditory rehabilitation when CI is not possible due to anatomical reasons.
- An estimated 5 to 45 children in Germany annually could benefit from ABI treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present and discuss the current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of auditory brainstem implants (ABI) in children.
- To evaluate the outcomes of ABI implantation in congenitally deaf children.
- To compare findings with existing literature and the authors' own patient data.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted for publications from 2010 onwards.
- 15 articles reporting at least 10 cases with a minimum of one year of auditory follow-up were included.
- Results were analyzed using Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores and compared with data from 38 patients.
Main Results:
- Children without additional impairments demonstrated significantly better hearing outcomes with ABI compared to those with co-existing handicaps.
- Early implantation, ideally before the age of three, is advantageous.
- The mean CAP score across studies was 3.57 (SD, 1.04), with 38.24% (SD 18.68) achieving the ability to understand spoken language (CAP ≥ 5).
Conclusions:
- Auditory brainstem implantation (ABI) is a safe and effective treatment for sensorineural deafness in children unsuitable for cochlear implants.
- Children without other impairments have a high likelihood of developing spoken language understanding with ABI, particularly with early implantation.
- ABI provides a crucial auditory rehabilitation option for specific pediatric populations.
