Adult cochlear implant users show changes in cortical brain responses over time after implantation

What is it about?

This paper followed adults who received a cochlear implant over 9 months from switch-on. The cortical evoked brain response showed slowly over time compared to the relatively rapid improvement in speech perception scores after implantation. Different patterns of auditory plasticity are evident in adult cochlear implantees depending on whether behavioural or electrophysiological measures are examined.

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Why is it important?

Consideration of auditory plasticity and ways to optimize outcomes for adults receiving cochlear implants is an important topic since there is a wide range of performance across individuals, despite great advances in implant technology.