A strong positive association exists between the age at which an infant is fitted with a cochlear implant (CI) and the child’s speech perception, psychosocial skills and quality of life outcomes.

These are the findings of a landmark study outlined by NextSense Institute Director Professors Greg Leigh and Teresa Ching at a regional symposium in Malaysia last month.

Greg and Teresa were among a group of seven from NextSense who attended the Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences (APSCI), a key regional forum for professionals in cochlear implants and hearing sciences in Kuala Lumpur.

The symposium aims to foster collaboration across disciplines and was founded in 1996 to address the specific challenges in the Asia Pacific region and is held biennially.

Greg presented a paper that he co-authored with NextSense Institute Professorial Fellow Teresa Ching and Linda Cupples, Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University.

The paper, delivered as a plenary lecture, discussed the findings across multiple points of a longitudinal population-based study in Australia.

The study investigated the effectiveness of early identification via newborn hearing screening and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing based on outcomes and the associated factors that account for variability in those outcomes.

The Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study, of which Teresa and Greg and are part of the research team, shows:

• There is a strong positive association between age at CI implantation and language abilities and quality of life outcomes, among others.
• Children who have their cochlear implants switched on early (e.g., at six months) have much better outcomes than those switched on later. 
• There is a strong link between language acquisition and quality of life.  
• Although, on average, there is no significant difference in psychosocial outcomes between children who are deaf or hard of hearing and have cochlear implants and their hearing peers, there are multiple factors that explain considerable variability in those outcomes.

The findings demonstrate the importance of newborn hearing screening. More than 97 per cent of newborns in Australia are screened for hearing, up from fewer than 6 per cent in 2000, allowing for earlier intervention to support positive outcomes.

Other speakers at the symposium included NextSense Institute’s Manager, Continuing Professional Education, Trudy Smith, who spoke about the power of professional discussion.

Trudy presented research findings about the benefits of peer discussion on professional identity and considered the benefits of establishing set and structured discussion times with peers.

Inge Kaltenbrunn, National Services Governance Manager Deaf/Hard of Hearing, outlined research showing that age-related hearing loss may impact emotional wellbeing, mental health, and social participation, which can decrease quality of life. To enhance outcomes among older adults with cochlear implants, she highlighted the importance of a comprehensive auditory rehabilitation approach that is tailored to individual needs. Positive outcomes include greater confidence, satisfaction with progress against goals and expectations, and improved listening and communication skills. Two members of the NextSense network of surgeons, also addressed the symposium:

• Clinical Professor Catherine Birman, spoke about optimising outcomes in cochlear implant genetics.

• Associate Professor Melville Da Cruz spoke to the symposium delegates about validation of clinical imaging measures for cochlear implant electrode position against histology and Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) standards.

Greg said he was impressed by the trajectory of development around cochlear implants in the region, particularly in the allied health space.

“There is a burgeoning scientific and clinical capability right across the region,” Greg says.

“There was a big surgical presence at the symposium but also a lot of audiologists, speech pathologists, teachers and for the first time it seems, organisations representing parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.”