Cognitive skills in children with Usher syndrome type 1 and cochlear implants.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Usher syndrome is a genetic condition causing deaf-blindness and is one of the most common causes of syndromic deafness. Individuals with USH1 in Sweden born during the last 15 years have typically received cochlear implants (CI) as treatment for their congenital, profound hearing loss. Recent research in genetics indicates that the cause of deafness in individuals with Usher type 1 (USH1) could be beneficial for the outcome with cochlear implants (CI). This population has not previously been the focus of cognitive research.

OBJECTIVE:

The present study aims to examine the phonological and lexical skills and working memory capacity (WMC) in children with USH1 and CI and to compare their performance with children with NH, children with hearing-impairment using hearing-aids and to children with non-USH1 deafness using CI. The participants were 7 children aged 7-16 years with USH1 and CI.

METHODS:

The participants performed 10 sets of tasks measuring phonological and lexical skills and working memory capacity.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results indicate that children with USH1 and CI as a group in general have a similar level of performance on the cognitive tasks as children with hearing impairment and hearing aids. The group with USH1 and CI has a different performance profile on the tests of working memory, phonological skill and lexical skill than children with non-USH1 deafness using CI, on tasks of phonological working memory and phonological skill.

• Authors: Cecilia Henricson, Malin Wass, Björn Lidestam, Claes Möller, Björn Lyxell
• Journal: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology (Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 76 Issue 10 Pg. 1449-57 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1872-8464 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 22795738 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Cochlear Implants
• Cognition (physiology)
• Humans
• Memory, Short-Term (physiology)
• Psychological Tests
• Reading
• Speech (physiology)
• Usher Syndromes (physiopathology, surgery)