Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation

Abstract Hearing and speech outcomes of pediatric patients with auditory brainstem implants (ABI) are variable, and the underlying developmental mechanism remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ABI in pediatric patients with congenital non‐tumor hearing loss and elucida...

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Main Authors: Yu Zhang, Yongchuan Chai, Yiwen Zhang, Huan Jia, Zhaoyan Wang, Zhihua Zhang, Zhili Wang, Jie Chen, Xue Wang, Yun Li, Ying Chen, Hao Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202406092
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author Yu Zhang
Yongchuan Chai
Yiwen Zhang
Huan Jia
Zhaoyan Wang
Zhihua Zhang
Zhili Wang
Jie Chen
Xue Wang
Yun Li
Ying Chen
Hao Wu
author_facet Yu Zhang
Yongchuan Chai
Yiwen Zhang
Huan Jia
Zhaoyan Wang
Zhihua Zhang
Zhili Wang
Jie Chen
Xue Wang
Yun Li
Ying Chen
Hao Wu
author_sort Yu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hearing and speech outcomes of pediatric patients with auditory brainstem implants (ABI) are variable, and the underlying developmental mechanism remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ABI in pediatric patients with congenital non‐tumor hearing loss and elucidate the role of cortical plasticity in hearing and speech development. A prospective cohort study is conducted involving 112 consecutive pediatric patients who received ABI at a tertiary university‐based referral center from January 2019 to October 2023. The mean age at the time of surgery and postoperative follow‐up are 3.4±1.9 years and 25.7±11.7 months (3–48 months), respectively. The average percentage of elicited electrodes (eABR%) during the operation is 72.73±17.99%. Post‐activation, hearing and speech outcomes improved steadily. Younger age at implantation (<3 years), less severe inner‐ear malformation, and higher intraoperative eABR% (≥60%) are significantly associated with better hearing and speech outcomes. Mismatch negativity (MMN) responses are evoked in all children aged 12–18 months. Cortical functional connectivity developed after activation, particularly within the bilateral temporal/frontal lobes. Several factors contribute to hearing and speech development in children with ABI, and cortical plasticity plays a pivotal role. MMN amplitude and brain functional connectivity may serve as cortical indices for predicting long‐term outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-40feeec7548a414db756588c4880f4062025-08-20T03:41:08ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011229n/an/a10.1002/advs.202406092Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear MalformationYu Zhang0Yongchuan Chai1Yiwen Zhang2Huan Jia3Zhaoyan Wang4Zhihua Zhang5Zhili Wang6Jie Chen7Xue Wang8Yun Li9Ying Chen10Hao Wu11Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine No. 639, Zhizaoju Road Shanghai 200011 ChinaAbstract Hearing and speech outcomes of pediatric patients with auditory brainstem implants (ABI) are variable, and the underlying developmental mechanism remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ABI in pediatric patients with congenital non‐tumor hearing loss and elucidate the role of cortical plasticity in hearing and speech development. A prospective cohort study is conducted involving 112 consecutive pediatric patients who received ABI at a tertiary university‐based referral center from January 2019 to October 2023. The mean age at the time of surgery and postoperative follow‐up are 3.4±1.9 years and 25.7±11.7 months (3–48 months), respectively. The average percentage of elicited electrodes (eABR%) during the operation is 72.73±17.99%. Post‐activation, hearing and speech outcomes improved steadily. Younger age at implantation (<3 years), less severe inner‐ear malformation, and higher intraoperative eABR% (≥60%) are significantly associated with better hearing and speech outcomes. Mismatch negativity (MMN) responses are evoked in all children aged 12–18 months. Cortical functional connectivity developed after activation, particularly within the bilateral temporal/frontal lobes. Several factors contribute to hearing and speech development in children with ABI, and cortical plasticity plays a pivotal role. MMN amplitude and brain functional connectivity may serve as cortical indices for predicting long‐term outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202406092auditory brainstem implantelectroencephalogramfunctional near‐infrared spectroscopyneural plasticity
spellingShingle Yu Zhang
Yongchuan Chai
Yiwen Zhang
Huan Jia
Zhaoyan Wang
Zhihua Zhang
Zhili Wang
Jie Chen
Xue Wang
Yun Li
Ying Chen
Hao Wu
Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
Advanced Science
auditory brainstem implant
electroencephalogram
functional near‐infrared spectroscopy
neural plasticity
title Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
title_full Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
title_fullStr Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
title_full_unstemmed Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
title_short Neural Plasticity and Hearing‐Speech Development in Children with Auditory Brainstem Implants for Congenital Hearing Loss Due to Severe Inner Ear Malformation
title_sort neural plasticity and hearing speech development in children with auditory brainstem implants for congenital hearing loss due to severe inner ear malformation
topic auditory brainstem implant
electroencephalogram
functional near‐infrared spectroscopy
neural plasticity
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202406092
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