Cortical auditory function in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia

ABSTRACT Objective: This study explored cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEPs) elicited by speech sounds in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia (CAA). Design: Twelve children (8 males) aged 7–16 years (M age 10.0, SD 3.1) with unilateral CAA took part in the study. Results were compared to a control group of 15 children 5–16 years (M age 9.5, SD 3.4 years) with normal hearing bilaterally. CAEPs to speech in noise (+5 dB signal-to-noise ratio) were recorded. Results: P1 amplitudes were larger for frontal locations regardless of the stimulus, ear of presentation, group (CAA vs. normal hearing), or age. Younger participants had larger P1 amplitude across electrodes. For N250 responses, CAEPs evoked by /ti/ had the shortest latency, followed by /di/and/gi/. Older children presented with shorter N250 latencies for /ti/, regardless of electrode location or group or ear of presentation. Conclusions: CAEPs in children with a moderate conductive congenital unilateral hearing loss showed typical developmental and stimulus effects. We did not find group differences when CAEPs of children with atresia were compared to control participants. Better understanding of typical development and changes in CAEPs over time in children with CAA is needed to ascertain whether unilateral hearing loss due to CAA has effects on CAEPs that correlate with perceptual effects.