What is it about?
Children with more residual hearing at high frequencies had larger gray matter (GM) volume ratio in the auditory cortex (corrected by total intracranial volume). An interaction effect between residual hearing and the use of hearing aids suggested that the effect of residual hearing on gray matter ratio was moderated by the use of hearing aids. Compared with children with less residual hearing, children who had more residual hearing benefited more from longer use of hearing aids in terms of a larger gray matter ratio.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The impact of residual hearing on the neuroanatomy of the auditory cortex in children with hearing loss is emphasised. More auditory input via hearing aids for children with more residual hearing to preserve the auditory cortex before cochlear implantation is encouraged. For children with less residual hearing who might receive limited benefit from hearing aids, an early cochlear implant would be necessary.
Perspectives
We hope these findings may further support the clinical practices of early intervention of hearing loss, from a neuroanatomy perspective.
Dr. Iris H.-Y. Ng
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Extent of Hearing Input Affects the Plasticity of the Auditory Cortex in Children With Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study, American Journal of Audiology, June 2023, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-22-00172.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
