Analysis of the procedures for selection of children for the cochlear implant / Analise dos procedimentos de seleção de crianças para o implante coclear

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Cochlear implants are high- technology electronic devices that electrically stimulate remaining nervous fibers, allowing the transmission of electric signals to the auditory nerve for codification by the cerebral cortex. They differ from conventional auditory prosthesis because they do not amplify sound but supply electric impulses, and are therefore considered a good alternative for patients who are not benefited by sound amplification. This technology is being increasingly used for very young children and professionals of the field are responsible for choosing the best candidates for using the devices. The main goal of this research was to analyze aspects of assistance given to children by the team of Cochlear Implantation of the Hospital of Clinics (HC)-UNICAMP, and focused on protocols used for eligibility to implantation regarding communicative capacity and audibility, suggesting guidelines to a more adequate procedure for selection. The subjects were 7 children with auditory inabilities ranging from severe to profound that met the criteria for inclusion of HC-UNICAMP?s Cochlear Implantation Program. Free-field audiometric thresholds, rates from IT-MAIS (Infant-Toddler: Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale - Castiquini, 1998), an auditory perception evaluation questionnaire, data from MUSS (Meaningful Use of Speech Scale - Nascimento, 1997), video-recordings of children in a playful situation and notes of clinical histories regarding communicative performance were analyzed both before and after surgery. The process of selection of children for cochlear implantation needs to recognize the value of observing children?s behavior in playful situations, aiming to investigate the communicative actions they present, and video-recordings turned out to be an important tool. Better-performing children in communicative behaviors presented better results after cochlear implantation. Children with a severe auditory loss must be considered as potential candidates because they present a better stimulation with the auditory device?s help (although many times they are not able to develop speech), what seems to favor their response to cochlear implantation. Auditory thresholds improve with the improvement of mapping and are better when electric thresholds are elicited through behavioral response. Auditory perception improvement follows the same ratio. Post-surgically, the emergence or improvement of the communicative behaviors is the first indication of benefits of cochlear implantation

ASSUNTO(S)

children triage implantes cocleares cochlear implant crianças triagem surdez deafness

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