Visual Reliance in Severe Hearing Loss: Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) Study

Peripheral hearing loss is associated with the cross-modal re-organization of the auditory cortex, which can occur in both pre- and post-lingual deaf cases.

Background/objectives: Whether to rely on the visual cues in cases with severe hearing loss with adequate amplification is a matter of debate. So, this study aims to study visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in children with severe or profound HL, whether fitted with HAs or CIs.

Methods: This study included three groups of children matched in age and gender: normal hearing, children with hearing thresholds >70 dBHL and fitted with power HAs, and children fitted with CIs. All cases were subjected to pure tone audiometry (aided and unaided), speech discrimination scores, ophthalmic examinations, and visual evoked potentials (VEPs).

Results: SD% scores significantly improved with the use of VCs in both CI and HL groups, and a significantly higher P100 amplitude of VEPs in both CI and HL groups (more in children fitted with CIs).

Conclusions: Cross-modal reorganization in severe degrees of HL is of great benefit whether they are fitted with HAs or CIs.