Arterial spin labeling brain MRI study to evaluate the impact of deafness on cerebral perfusion in 79 children before cochlear implantation

Age at implantation is considered to be a major factor, influencing outcomes after pediatric cochlear implantation. In the absence of acoustic input, it has been proposed that cross-modal reorganization can detrimental for adaptation new electrical input provided by implant. Here, through retrospective study, we aimed investigate differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) rest prior children with congenital deafness compared normally hearing children. addition, looked putative link between pre-operative rest-CBF and oral intelligibility scores 12 months post-implantation. Finally, observed evolution perfusion age, within brain areas showing abnormal associated deafness, deaf older than 5 years old, results showed significant bilateral hypoperfusion temporal regions children, particularly Heschl’s gyrus, hyperperfusion occipital regions. Furthermore, whole voxel-by-voxel correlation analysis post-implantation, negative localized regions: who performed worse speech perception test one year were those presenting higher preoperative CBF values these when comparing mean relative (extracted from found on whole-brain voxel-based analysis) across ages patients controls, was significantly different Indeed, while increased age remained stable We critical period around 4 where context auditory deprivation, there lack synaptic activity These support benefits early maximize effectiveness rehabilitation avoid reorganization.