[Paediatric cochlear implantation in the critical period of the auditory pathway, our experience]. / La implantación coclear pediátrica en el periodo crítico de la vía auditiva, nuestra experiencia.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous experimental and clinical studies have suggested a critical or sensitive period in which the auditory pathway develops its greatest potential in terms of plasticity and learning. Early cochlear implantation performed in prelingual deaf children in this period provides a better prognosis for language acquisition. The aim of this study is to show the importance of cochlear implantation before this critical period ends. METHODS: We conducted an observational, longitudinal, retrospective study of 57 children suffering profound prelingual bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who had received Advanced Bionics implants at our ENT department between June, 1998, and November, 2006. Data on their audiometric thresholds, the disyllabic word test adapted to children, open-set sentences recognition test and the Nottingham scale were analyzed. RESULTS: The analysis of audiometric thresholds showed no differences between children receiving the implants at different ages. However, statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found in speech tests between groups of children receiving the implants before and after 4 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in line with other publications showing differences in auditory performance when comparing children with early implants versus children receiving the implants at a later age. We found the greatest differences at 4 years of age. Nevertheless, these findings should not exclude children over this age from implantation.

La implantación coclear pediátrica en el periodo crítico de la vía auditiva, nuestra experiencia / Paediatric cochlear implantation in the critical period of the auditory pathway, our experience

Introducción: Datos experimentales y clínicos apuntan a que existe un periodo crítico o sensible en el que la vía auditiva desarrolla el mayor potencial de plasticidad y aprendizaje. Se ha demostrado que la implantación coclear precoz en ese periodo conlleva un mejor pronóstico respecto a la adquisición del lenguaje. El objetivo del presente trabajo es demostrar la importancia de la implantación coclear en ese periodo crítico. Métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio observacional, longitudinal y retrospectivo en 57 niños con hipoacusia neurosensorial bilateral profunda de inicio prelingual implantados en nuestro servicio, entre junio de 1998 y noviembre de 2006, con dispositvos de Advanced Bionics. Se han analizado los resultados obtenidos en audiometría tonal liminar, test de bisílabos adaptado a niños, test de frases en abierto y escala de Nottingham. Resultados: No se han observado diferencias en el análisis de los umbrales audiométricos de los niños implantados a distintas edades. Sin embargo, cuando se analizan los resultados de los tests logoaudiométricos, sí se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0,05) en los grupos de niños implantados antes y después de los 4 años de edad. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados son coherentes con los de otras publicaciones en las que se evidencian claras diferencias en el rendimiento auditivo de los niños implantados precozmente con respecto a la implantación más tardía. Hemos encontrado las mayores diferencias en el límite de los 4 años de edad. No obstante, estos hallazgos no deben hacer que se excluya de la implantación a los niños que hayan sobrepasado esa edad (AU)

Introduction: Numerous experimental and clinical studies have suggested a critical or sensitive period in which the auditory pathway develops its greatest potential in terms of plasticity and learning. Early cochlear implantation performed in prelingual deaf children in this period provides a better prognosis for language acquisition. The aim of this study is to show the importance of cochlear implantation before this critical period ends. Methods: We conducted an observational, longitudinal, retrospective study of 57 children suffering profound prelingual bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who had received Advanced Bionics implants at our ENT department between June, 1998, and November, 2006. Data on their audiometric thresholds, the disyllabic word test adapted to children, open-set sentences recognition test and the Nottingham scale were analyzed. Results: The analysis of audiometric thresholds showed no differences between children receiving the implants at different ages. However, statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found in speech tests between groups of children receiving the implants before and after 4 years of age. Conclusions: Our results are in line with other publications showing differences in auditory performance when comparing children with early implants versus children receiving the implants at a later age. We found the greatest differences at 4 years of age. Nevertheless, these findings should not exclude children over this age from implantation (AU)