ASHA Learning Pass

There is evidence that many factors contribute to the varied performance outcomes among pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients, including etiology and quality of the electrode neuron interfaces (ENI). This course examines a study that investigated the intersection of these factors by analyzing the records and device settings for 156 children with confirmed diagnoses of either enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) or Connexin-26 mutations. The current results show that levels needed for perception, at threshold or comfort level, are higher for children with EVA compared to those with Connexin-26 mutations. There are also systematic differences in impedance. These findings may reflect important differences in the quality of the ENI for children with these two etiologies. Future directions could include the development of etiologically tailored programming strategies to improve CI outcomes.

This course is a recorded technical research session from the 2021 ASHA Convention Virtual Library (session 4536V).

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Describe EVA and Connexin-26 (GJB2) as they relate to pediatric hearing loss (HL)
• Compare clinical programming CI settings between these two populations
• Discuss the concept of electrode neuron interface as it relates to CI users with EVA or GJB2 HL

Presenter Information

Charlotte Morse-Fortier, AuD, CCC-A (Presenting Author), is a research audiologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. She is currently working in Dr. Julie Arenberg’s cochlear implant research lab, with a focus on improving speech perception and quality of life outcomes for CI recipients. She has a background as a dual clinical and research audiologist who has worked with pediatric and adult patients in diagnostics and rehabilitation. Her previous areas of research include psychoacoustics, hearing aids, and tinnitus.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Dr. Amanda Griffin (Non-Presenting Author) is a clinical-research audiologist at Boston Children's Hospital. As the Director of Audiology Research, her primary line of research focuses on the effects of pediatric unilateral hearing loss in school-age children. She also provides clinical services to children in the Cochlear Implant Program.

Financial Disclosures:

• Full-time salaried employee at Boston Children's Hospital

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Kelly Jahn, AuD, PhD (Non-Presenting Author), is an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, MA. She received an AuD from Vanderbilt University and a PhD from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on improving diagnostic tools and clinical interventions for individuals with hearing impairment.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Member of the Editorial Board for the American Journal of Audiology

David Faller (Non-Presenting Author) is a clinical research assistant in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Boston Children's Hospital.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Michael Cohen (Non-Presenting Author) is the Director of Multidisciplinary Pediatric Hearing Loss Clinic, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School.

Financial Disclosures:

• Sponsored Research Agreement with MED-EL

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Dr. Margaret Kenna (Non-Presenting Author) is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Boston Children's Hospital and Director of Clinical Research and the Hearing Loss program in the Dept. of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Boston Children's Hospital. She is also a Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Practicing for 9 years, Dr. Elizabeth DesRoche (Non-Presenting Author) is a Senior Audiologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. She specializes in working with pediatric and adult patients who have cochlear implants. Additionally, she performs electrophysiologic testing and works with amplification. She has been a member of the Emerging Auditory Research Lab at Massachusetts Eye and Ear part time over the last 2 years.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Dr. Julie Arenberg (Non-Presenting Author) is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Clinical Audiology for Research and Education at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, MA. Her background and training are in auditory neuroscience and audiology, and her program of research seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to the variability in outcomes for children and adults who are fitted with cochlear implants.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete the learning assessment by June 20, 2027.

Program History and CE Information

Content origination date: November 2021
End date: June 20, 2027

This course is offered for 0.05 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).

Related Courses

View more sessions from the 2021 ASHA Convention, available exclusively in the ASHA Learning Pass.