Autism's Impact on Cochlear Implantation Surgery Outcomes in Deaf Children

Document Type : Original

Authors

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Research Center for Evidence Based Medicine, Iranian EBM Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Affiliated Group, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

3 Department of Pediatrics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

10.22038/ijorl.2024.74369.3502

Abstract

Introduction:
Cochlear implants (CI) provide a hearing sense for severe to profound hearing-impaired patients, both adults and children, and they are a broadly effective and accepted therapeutic method for those patients. Also, Deaf children with comorbidities, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), undergo cochlear implantation. ASDs are a group of developing disorders characterized by abnormalities in social interaction and communication with limited repetitive patterns of behavior. This study aimed to assess the effect of Autism on CI surgery outcomes in Deaf Children.
Materials and Methods:
We followed 12 autistic patients with cochlear implantation and 12 non-autistic cochlear-implanted patients for two years. The Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores were used to assess 6, 12, and 24 months after cochlear implantation surgery.
 Results:
During the 24-month follow-up, the CAP means scores increased in both groups, and SIR and CAP progresses were considerably greater in non-ASD children (P<0.001). However, in ASD children, the progress of CAP and SIR variables were significant, with 99% and 95% confidence, respectively, at 24 months after surgery.
Conclusion:
Although the CIs could improve hearing performance in autistic patients, speech development after CIs in autistic children could affected by several factors, including the severity of autism, and this can be effective in providing pre-implant counseling to parents. The application of the alternative communication methods could be taken into account as a potential rehab technique.

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Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 36, Issue 3
May and June 2024
Pages 451-457

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