Language and Memory Skills in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

This study aims to compare the language and memory skills of cochlear implant (CI) users with and without auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD).

Cross-sectional, comparative observational study.

Tertiary referral center.

Twenty-six children with CIs participated in the study. The study group consisted of 11 children diagnosed with ANSD, while the control group included 15 children without ANSD.

Language skills were evaluated using the Test of Language Development-Primary: Fourth Edition (TOLD-P:4), and memory abilities were assessed using the Working Memory Scale (WMS).

No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in listening [median (range): 64 (55 to 91) vs 76 (55 to 121), P = 0.27], organizing [58 (55 to 88) vs 73 (55 to 94), P = 0.68], speaking [58 (55 to -97) vs 79 (55 to 127), P = 0.16], grammar [65 (55 to 91) vs 82 (55 to 112), P = 0.12], semantics [61 (55 to 97) vs 80 (55 to 115), P = 0.15], and oral language [59 (55 to 88) vs 78 (55 to 115), P = 0.12] index scores. Similarly, verbal memory standard scores did not differ significantly between the groups [median (range): 332 (247 to 571) vs 417 (228 to 808), P = 0.10].

Children with ANSD who use CIs demonstrate language and memory abilities comparable to those of CI users without ANSD. These findings suggest that despite the auditory processing challenges associated with ANSD, cochlear implantation effectively supports the development of language and memory skills.