الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This study was done to compare language outcomes and auditory skills development in hearing impaired children using bimodal fitting (CI+HA) to hearing impaired children using monaural CI. It was done on 30 children with an age range of 2-6 years divided into two groups: A study (Bimodal) group: having sensorineural hearing loss using binaural bimodal fitting (cochlear implant and contralateral hearing aid); and A control group: having sensorineural hearing loss using monaural cochlear implant and the contralateral ear was left without aiding. Both groups are matched according to age, gender and mental abilities. Children subjected to auditory training and language therapy in the Phoniatric Unit, Sohag University Hospital. The both groups were compared according to their outcomes pretherapy and 3m, 6m and 9m after therapy. This study revealed that the bimodal children perform somewhat better than CI only children in auditory skills and language parameters. Using bimodal fitting to children with hearing impaired using monaural CI may improve therapy outcome. Conclusion Our results showed that bimodal group perform better than CI only group in different language parameters and auditory skills development when controlling other factors like age of cochlear implantation, IQ, and parents’ motivation. We recommend to continue using both HA until the operation of CI. Then continue using HA in the contralateral ear (non-implanted ear) all the time or when a second CI becomes available. The aim of this bimodal binaural hearing is to get benefit from binaural hearing auditory skills development in early childhood and to avoid risk of auditory deprivation and aural preference syndrome. In addition, we highly recommend clinicians to be aware of the importance of binaural hearing to the child’s language acquisition and learning. Therefore, clinicians should advice their patients not to put off their HA in the non-implanted ear. More studies are needed to evaluate language and speech outcomes in bimodal fitted children over a long period. |