Work

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Predicts Cochlear-Implant Speech Outcomes

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implants (CIs) have revolutionized hearing restoration for individuals with severe or profound hearing loss. However, a substantial and unexplained variability persists in CI outcomes, even when considering subject-specific factors such as age and the duration of deafness. In a pioneering study, we use resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy to predict speech-understanding outcomes before and after CI implantation. Our hypothesis centers on resting-state functional connectivity (FC) reflecting brain plasticity post-hearing loss and implantation, specifically targeting the average clustering coefficient in resting FC networks to capture variation among CI users. DESIGN: Twenty-three CI candidates participated in this study. Resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy data were collected preimplantation and at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year postimplantation. Speech understanding performance was assessed using consonant-nucleus-consonant words in quiet and Bamford-Kowal-Bench sentences in noise 1-year postimplantation. Resting-state FC networks were constructed using regularized partial correlation, and the average clustering coefficient was measured in the signed weighted networks as a predictive measure for implantation outcomes. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrate a significant correlation between the average clustering coefficient in resting-state functional networks and speech understanding outcomes, both pre- and postimplantation. CONCLUSIONS: This approach uses an easily deployable resting-state functional brain imaging metric to predict speech-understanding outcomes in implant recipients. The results indicate that the average clustering coefficient, both pre- and postimplantation, correlates with speech understanding outcomes.

Source: Ear and Hearing

DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001564

Authors: Jamal Esmaelpoor, Tommy Peng, Beth Jelfs, Darren Mao, Maureen J. Shader, Colette M. McKay

Institutions: Bionics Institute, The University of Melbourne, University of Birmingham, Purdue University West Lafayette

Language: English

Topic: Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation, State Government of Victoria