Comparison of auditory perception in cochlear implanted children with and without additional disabilities

Background: The number of children with cochlear implants who have other difficulties such as attention deficiency and cerebral palsy has increased dramatically. Despite the need for information on the results of cochlear implantation in this group, the available literature is extremely limited. We, therefore, sought to compare the levels of auditory perception in children with cochlear implants with and without additional disabilities

Methods: A spondee test comprising 20 two-syllable words was performed. The data analysis was done using SPSS, version 19

Results: Thirty-one children who had received cochlear implants 2 years previously and were at an average age of 7.5 years were compared via the spondee test. From the 31 children, 15 had one or more additional disabilities. The data analysis indicated that the mean score of auditory perception in this group was approximately 30 scores below that of the children with cochlear implants who had no additional disabilities. Conclusion: Although there was an improvement in the auditory perception of all the children with cochlear implants, there was a noticeable difference in the level of auditory perception between those with and without additional disabilities. Deafness and additional disabilities depended the children on lip reading alongside the auditory ways of communication. In addition, the level of auditory perception in the children with cochlear implants who had more than one additional disability was significantly less than that of the other children with cochlear implants who had one additional disability

Strong association of ctla-4 variation [ct60a/g] and ctla-4 haplotypes with predisposition of Iranians to head and neck cancer

Variations in Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4 [CTLA-4] affect the expression and function of this protein. We aimed to investigate the association of +49 A/G [rs231775], +1822 C/T [rs231779] and +6230 A/G [CT60, rs3087243] genetic variations, as well as the merged haplotypes in CTLA-4 gene with susceptibility to, or progression of head and neck cancer. Eighty patients with confirmed head and neck [HN] cancer [age 54.9 +/- 16.1 years] and 85 healthy age/sexmatched controls [age 56.3 +/- 12.4 years] were enrolled in the study. Genotypes were investigated by the PCR-RFLP method. Arlequin software package was used to check for Hardy-Weinberg equilibration, and to estimate the haplotypes. At position +6230 A/G [CT60], AA genotype, as well as A allele was significantly decreased in patients with HN cancers than controls [18.8% vs. 40.7%, p=0.004; odds ratio=0.34, and 46.3% vs. 61.7, p=0.007; odds ratio=0.53%, respectively]. Nearly the same results were obtained when we compared the subgroup of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the HN [SCC-HN] with control subjects. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles at other positions were not significantly different between patients and controls, however ACG, GTA and GCA haplotypes emerged from three investigated loci occurred with significantly more frequencies in patients [p<0.0001], while ACA and GTG haplotypes were more frequent among controls [p<0.0001]. Significant differences of haplotypes, genotypes and alleles frequencies resisted the Bonferroni correction. Our results suggest that CT60 A allele, as well as ACA and GTG haplotypes in CTLA-4 gene may have protective roles against HN cancer in Iranian population, while ACG, GTA and specially GCA haplotypes may render susceptibility.

[Effects of cochlear implantation and associated rehabilitation services on the development of verbal and non-verbal intelligence of 6-9 years old deaf children with cochlear implants]

Children with profound sensorineural hearing loss are at risk for language delays that can impact their academic and social development. A suitable way to develop speech and language of deaf children is cochlear implantation [CI]. The main propose of this study is the evaluation of child's development in language skills like information, similarities, arithmetic, vocabulary and comprehension after CI surgery and rehabilitation. This quasi - experimental study was conducted in Shiraz CI center during 2008-2009. For this reason we did the Raven test on all of the CI children of Fars CI center, who were at least 6 years old and had finished their rehabilitation program about 3 years ago. After that we selected 23 cases that had the selection criteria for answering the verbal part of Wechsler intelligence scale for children [WISC -R]. For statistical analysis we used SPSS software version 11.5. The verbal intelligence quotient [IQ] developed after surgery and rehabilitation program of CI children, but was not the same as normal children of their age. The most important factors that affect this, is child's age and family education. Also there was no significant relation between verbal and non-verbal IQ. Although CI is a suitable way to increase verbal IQ, and cognitive development, for better results, it's recommended in children under 3 years