Cochlear Implantation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Long-Term Outcomes and Hearing-Related Quality of Life

Saturday, September 28, 2024

9:42 AM – 9:48 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 231

Disclosure(s):

Meredith A. Allen, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Camille E. Reeves, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Samuel H. Smith, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Despite abundant literature on pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients without complex needs, limited information exists on those with disabilities. With expanded CI criteria in the pediatric population and increased prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this CI recipient population is growing. This study examines variations in access to care, short- and long-term outcomes, and quality of life in CI recipients with ASD.

Methods: At our tertiary children's hospital, we conducted a comprehensive retrospective case-control review and cross-sectional quality of life (QoL) survey using the HEAR-QL Questionnaire, comparing this population to a matched control group.

Results: We queried 413 charts from 2000 to 2021. Among them, 22 patients along with matched counterparts met the inclusion criteria, and 26 patients completed prospective surveys. No significant differences were observed in delay in care for ASD children versus controls, including time between diagnosis and CI evaluation (p=0.673), CI qualification (p=0.670), and first CI (p=0.670). However, children 2-6 years old with ASD exhibited worse outcomes in social interaction (p = 0.020) and new social situations (p = 0.020 and 0.039). These behavioral differences are anticipated in ASD, but despite this there was no significant difference in communication between the two groups (p = 0.245).

Conclusions: By assessing the effect of CI on hearing, communication, and QoL, guidelines can be drawn to help provide deaf children with ASD and their families with the best individualized hearing rehabilitation strategy. This study provides tangible outcomes data to better identify potential prognostic factors of QoL in this population.

Presenting Author(s)

Meredith A. Allen, MD

Resident
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Camille E. Reeves, BA

Medical Student
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Memphis, TN, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
CM

Charles B. MacDonald, MD

UTHSC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Samuel H. Smith, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Memphis, TN, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
RY

Robert J. Yawn, MD, MBA

UTHSC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
ST

Sofia Torres-Small, Ms.

Medical Student
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

CR

Celine C. Richard, MD, PhD

Faculty
UTHSC
Memphis, TN, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.