Hearing and language skills of children using cochlear implants: an analysis of clinical development markers

• Grant number: 11/20494-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Vuono de Brito Neto
• Grantee: Mariane Perin da Silva
• Host Institution: Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais (HRAC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aims at identifying clinical development markers of hearing and language skills of children fitted with a cochlear implant, at the Audiological Research Center (CPA), with the Craniofacial Anomalies Rehabilitation Hospital (HRAC) - University of São Paulo (USP), and the phases are as follows: 1) To investigate the main factors which influence the development of hearing and language skills, through systematic literature review; 2) To identify the socio-demographic and audiological variables of children fitted with a cochlear implant up to three years of age; 3) To investigate the main clinical markers and which factors affect the development of hearing and language skills in children implanted up to three years of age. Children fitted with the cochlear implant prior to three years of age, up to December 2012, will participate in the research. To date, CPA serves some 952 cochlear implant users, and 396 were fitted with the implant prior to age 3. The results of assessments performed on the day the electronic device was activated, after 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months, as well the results of annual appointments of the children up to age 12, will be analyzed. Age at the cochlear implant surgery, age at its activation, speech therapy, socio-economic classification, familial involvement, and analysis of his/her hearing and language categories are the variables analyzed to define the markers. The statistical analysis will be performed, respecting the assumptions determined by the results, characteristics and behavior of the variables.