2nd International Conference and Expo on Audiology and Deaf Studies
Las Vegas, USA
Lidia Esther Charroo Rui
University of Santiago de Cuba,Cuba
Title: Plasticity and Neurophysiological measures in deaf and deafblind children: a study pre and post cochlear implantation
Biography
Biography: Lidia Esther Charroo Rui
Abstract
The cochlear implants are given the opportunity to gain the sense of hearing to deaf subject. Little is known the role of plasticity as a means to reactivate brain function.
Objective: To evaluate on plasticity before and after Cochlear Implants (CI).
Methods: evaluation of the maps topography of Visual (VEP), Somatosensory by stimulation of median (SEP-N20) and tibial (SEP-P40) nerves. We evaluated the Cortical Auditory (CAEP) and Electroencephalography (EEG) in deaf (n=18) and deafblind (n=12) pre-lingual.
Results: Topographic distribution maps of the SSEP-N20 showed expansion of activation, the over-representation was less extensive in deaf (area temporal) that in deafblind children (areas temporal and occipital). SEP-P40 no showed changed -strictly localized in area of -somesthetic information representation of the foot. The VEP no showed significant changes in deaf. Also offered for the first time, evidence of Cross-Modal-Plasticity through a study Post-IC, where deaf and deafblind children who are implanted after 7 years of age if there are changes in the SEP-N20 and the functional connectivity measured with EEG. While that with the CAEP was possible to evidence the cortical activation by the auditory sensory input through the CI.
Conclusions: The high functional connectivity after implantation and the changes in the SEP-N20 to the left temporal region in deaf and deafblind children with 7 o more age was interpreted as evidence of Cross-Modal-Plasticity, effect that may to have the use of the hands for communication in these children, with consequent implications to the optimal use of the CI during rehabilitation auditory.