The development of auditory skills in infants with isolated Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome after cochlear implantation

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the auditory performance of infants with isolated Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (LVAS) after cochlear implantation, compare their performance with those of infants with a normal inner ear, and establish a database of auditory developrnent. Method: 435 infants with congenital severe to profound hearing loss participated in this study. 62 infants in group A were diagnosed with isolated LVAS. 373 infants in group B had a normal inner ear. Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) was used to evaluate the development of auditory skills. Results: The mean scores for auditory ability showed no significant difference between groups A and B. The mean scores for the three different auditory skills increased significantly over time. The differences were statistically significant in mean scores among the three different auditory skills for group B. Conclusion: Auditory skills of infants with isolated LVAS developed rapidly after cochlear implantation, in a similar manner to those of infants with a normal inner ear. Cochlear implantation is an effective interventional approach and an established therapeutic option for infants with isolated LVAS. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.