Development of Aided Long-Latency Response (ALLR) in Children With Cochlear Implant Within 18 Months of Implantation.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the development of aided long-latency response (ALLR) in children with cochlear implants (CI) within 18 months of implantation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

ALLR was recorded in 33 children with CI who had an experience of less than 18 months with the implant. All the participants were in the age range of 3-7 years and were divided into 3 groups based on implant age, as 0-6 months, 6.1-12 months, and 12.1-18 months. Latency of the P1 component was recorded.

RESULTS

P1 latency was observed to be 142.105 ms at 0-6 months of implant age, 135.141 ms at 6.1-12 months of implant age, and 122.952 ms. at 12.1-18 months of implantation. CI recipients require 1 year of experience in order to obtain a significant difference in the P1 latency value. It was also found that gender does not influence P1 latency.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary findings suggest that with adequate stimulation, there is a gradual decrease in P1 latency, which indicates maturation of the central auditory structures. It was also found that the gender does not influence P1 latency.