Cortical Electrophysiological Markers of Language Abilities in Children with Hearing Aids: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE To investigate cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) in pediatric hearing aid (HA) users, with and without language impairment. DESIGN CAEPs were measured in 11 pediatric HA users (age: 8-12 years) with moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (HL); participants were classified according to language ability. CAEPs were also measured for a control group of 11 age-matched, normal-hearing (NH) children. RESULTS HL children without language impairment exhibited normal CAEPs. HL children with language impairment exhibited atypical temporal CAEPs, characterized by the absence of N1c; frontocentral responses displayed normal age-related patterns. CONCLUSION Results suggest that abnormal temporal brain function may underlie language impairment in pediatric HA users with moderate sensorineural HL.