Cochlear implantation (CI), in the past more than 30 years, has become  a routine intervention and its a standard of care for children with profound sensorineural hearing loss. The presence of a functional cochlear nerve is a key issue in pediatric CI. There are cases where implant candidacy decisions are difficult to make using existing evaluation procedures and among these cases are children with cochlear nerve deficiency (CND). The aim of this presentation is to highlight the importance of a comprehensive audiological, electrophysiological and radiological preoperative assessment in making a decision for cochlear implantation in prelingually deaf children.

Cochlear implantation (CI) can restore the hearing and improve the speech perception of patients with severe and profound hearing loss, but there are other important aspects of hearing to restore. Music, among these, is a very important art form that can evoke strong emotions  and has a considerable impact on the quality of life of CI recipients . However, it is well known that music perception is limited in CI with totally electric hearing  as a result of limited spectral sensitivity and slow varying temporal envelopes.

This presentation will be about the music perception abilities in CI users comparing prelingual recipients with postlinguals, CI users with normals on different aspects of music appreciation

Panel presentation of Current Approach to Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disease

Background: Approximately 10% of children born with a permanent hearing loss have auditory neuropathy. Implementation of universal newborn hearing screening has led to early detection and intervention. An increased understanding of the long-term achievements of children with auditory neuropathy is essential to developing a comprehensive account of expected outcomes of children for improving counselling and clinical management.

Objective. This study examined language and speech outcomes in a population-based cohort of 9-year-old children with hearing loss and auditory neuropathy, and investigated factors influencing outcomes.

Method. Receptive and expressive language skills, speech output accuracy, and a diverse set of cognitive, demographic and audiological, variables (including age at device fitting) were evaluated at 3-, 5- and 9-years of age using direct assessment and caregiver report. Multiple regression analyses were used to address two questions: 1) Do language and speech outcomes at earlier ages predict language and speech outcomes at 9 years of age? 2) Which cognitive, demographic and audiological variables measured at 9 years of age predict concurrent language and speech outcomes after controlling for early language and speech outcomes?

Result and Discussion. The influence of cognitive, demographic and audiological variables, including auditory neuropathy, on 9-year outcomes was quantified. The implications of results on clinical best-practice management of children with hearing loss and auditory neuropathy will be discussed.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the primary cause of non-genetic infantile sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).  The global prevalence is 0.64%, with a 17-20% risk of persistent sequelae in affected children. Patients with cCMV require sophisticated and multidisciplinary management, which includes clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examinations from infancy to school age. In recent years, significant progress has been made in preventing infection-related complications, including the effectiveness of antiviral treatments given during pregnancy to stop vertical transmission, the relationship between the stage of pregnancy and symptom severity, and advanced research into a cytomegalovirus vaccine. These developments have led to updates and adaptations of existing guidelines to better suit new circumstances and management needs. This aims to facilitate early infection diagnosis, implement therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies, and ensure proper monitoring of children’s development during their early years. Management of hearing loss caused by cCMV primarily emphasizes early detection and timely intervention. Newborn hearing screening programs, such as those using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEAOE), alongside targeted cCMV testing in high-risk groups, play a crucial role in identifying children at risk. For infants diagnosed with hearing loss, early treatments—including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and speech therapy—can enhance outcomes and promote the development of language and communication skills.

The author aims to highlight the challenges and recommendations regarding this topic in Italy, with a focus on early rehabilitation and audiological follow-up.

Randomised Control Trial Comparing A New Algorithm to Improved Discrimination in Noise