Cortical P1 Latency, Sound Field Audiometry, and Speech Audiometry in Children with Sequential Bilateral Cochlear Implants: A Comparative Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Objective assessment of auditory rehabilitation in children with cochlear implants (CIs) is challenging, as behavioral tests require cooperation that young children cannot always provide. The P1 component of the cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) is a marker of central auditory maturation, but few studies have compared it directly with behavioral measures in children with sequential bilateral CIs.

Methods

Eight children (median age 8.4 years) with prelingual profound sensorineural hearing loss treated with sequential bilateral CI underwent CAEP (speech tokens/m/,/g/,/t/at 55 and 65 dB sound pressure level (SPL)), sound field audiometry and speech audiometry. An a priori physiological plausibility criterion excluded all detected responses in one child and one further response in a second child; correlations were therefore based on seven children and were assessed by Spearman rank correlation with exact permutation p-values.