Correlation between cortical auditory evoked potential and auditory speech performance in children with cochlear implants

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the correlation between the characteristics of cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) of children with cochlear implants (CIs) and auditory and speech rehabilitation performance by an objective evaluation technique and subjective auditory and speech skills measurements.Methods: All participants were recruited from Beijing Children's Hospital, Beijing, China. 19 children with CIs had their responses to the CAEP and MMN recorded. The LittlEARs & REG; Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ), Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP), Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale (SIR), Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS), and Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) measures were taken to assess the children's speech and hearing abilities.Results: P1 and MMN of CAEP were negatively related to the duration of CI usage. The duration of CI usage and scores of auditory-verbal assessment questionnaires all showed significant relationships. Additionally, scores of these questionnaires were significantly inversely associated with the latency of P1 and MMN.Conclusion: P1 and MMN could be used as objective methods to evaluate the effectiveness of hearing and speech rehabilitation in children with CIs. In particular to those who cannot give effectively feedback of auditory and verbal effects, these methods might have a certain guiding significance.