Newswise — Cochlear Limited, West China Hospital and the House Ear Institute have joined forces to commence a landmark project to study the long-term benefits of early cochlear implantation for young deaf children in China.
"This large-scale longitudinal study is the first of its type in China and marks a milestone in the study of cochlear implant outcomes in China," said Sigfrid D. Soli, Ph.D., Head, Laboratory for Human Communication Sciences and Devices, House Ear Institute, and one of the project's co-directors.
The study will be conducted at West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, over a four year period and will evaluate the development of speech and language abilities in 120 children who receive a cochlear implant before the age of five years. The cochlear implant team at West China Hospital is headed by Prof. Zheng Hong, MD, who will perform the cochlear implant surgeries. The children will be evaluated several times in the first year after implantation, and annually thereafter for three years. It is during this period that language skills develop most rapidly and the foundation for the following important years of education and learning are established.
Separate groups of children with normal hearing, and children with a profound hearing loss who use hearing aids, will also be evaluated on the same longitudinal schedule for comparison purposes.
This research will identify key factors in the early development of speech and language abilities of normal hearing children and of profoundly hearing impaired children who use cochlear implants and those using hearing aids.
"We anticipate that the knowledge gained from this research can lead to improved outcomes in the early treatment of deaf and hearing impaired children throughout China," said Dr. Yun Zheng, MD, Director, Hearing Center, Out-Patient Clinic, West China Hospital, and one of the project's co-directors.
"It is important that we understand the specific outcomes being achieved in China so the cochlear implant program can be tailored appropriately to ensure the best possible results for all children," said Mark Salmon, President Asia Pacific, Cochlear Limited.
About House Ear InstituteThe House Ear Institute (HEI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. HEI scientists investigate the cellular and molecular causes of hearing loss and related auditory disorders as well as neurological processes pertaining to the human auditory system and the brain. Our researchers also explore technology advancements to improve auditory implants, hearing aids, diagnostic techniques and rehabilitation tools. The Institute shares its knowledge with the scientific and medical communities as well as the general public through its education and outreach programs. For more information: www.hei.org.
About Cochlear Limited " ASX: COH Established in 1981, Cochlear Ltd is the global leader in cochlear and bone conduction implant technology. Today, Cochlear is a global company with more than 1,900 employees. Over 150,000 people across more than 100 countries experience hearing now as recipients of Cochlear's hearing solutions.
In 2005, Cochlear acquired the Swedish company Entific Medical Systems. Through this acquisition, Cochlear expanded its hearing solutions portfolio to include the Baha® bone conduction implant for conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single sided deafness, as well as the Vistafix system for facial prosthetic retention. Baha and cochlear implants are complementary " providing different solutions for different types of hearing loss.
Cochlear continues to be driven by technological innovation and in F08 invested around 13% of its revenue in research and development. It is also committed to the ongoing development of a range of technologies to bring hearing to more people worldwide. Cochlear's promise " Hear now. And always - embodies the company's commitment to providing its recipients with the best possible hearing performance today, and for the rest of their lives.
About West China Hospital West China Hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is a large comprehensive teaching and research hospital with all medical disciplines, a strong teaching faculty, considerable research facilities and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The hospital has been ranked among the top hospitals in China since 1990 and is the primary medical center for complex and severe cases, medical education, and scientific research in Southwest China. The Hearing Center, affiliated with the Hospital's Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, is a leading hearing center in China. It provides audiological service to hearing-impaired people, especially young children, throughout Southwest China in accord with international standards of audiology practice. It is also a national education and training center of the Chinese Academy of Audiological Rehabilitation (CAAR). The Cochlear Implant Center is one of ten centers in China designated by the Chinese Ministry of Health to perform donated cochlear implant surgeries. For more information, please visit www.cd120.com.
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