Auditory event related potentials in children with peripheral hearing loss

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the neurophysiological responses in children with hearing loss.MethodsCortical auditory evoked potentials and Mismatch Negativity (MMN) Responses were recorded in 40 children, 9–12 years old: 12 with hearing loss, 12 with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) and 16 with normal hearing. Passive oddball paradigms were used with nonverbal and verbal stimuli.ResultsFor P1, no significant group differences were observed. A significant reduction in N2 amplitude with all stimuli was observed in the group of children with hearing loss compared to the results of those with normal hearing. N2 results did not reveal any significant differences between the group of children with hearing loss and the children with CAPD. MMN amplitude indicated a trend toward larger MMN amplitude among the group of children with hearing loss compared to the value of those of children with CAPD.ConclusionsAbnormal N2 characteristics could be a manifestation of a specific signature in children with hearing loss. This cortical response could be considered as a neurophysiologic marker of central auditory processing deficits in these children.SignificanceResults suggest maturational delays and/or deficits in central auditory processing in children with hearing loss.