Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Patients with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder of Genetic and Non-Genetic Etiologies: A Multicenter Study

Abstract

With diverse etiologies and clinical features, the management of pediatric auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is often challenging, and the outcomes of cochlear implants (CIs) are variable. This study aimed to investigate CI outcomes in pediatric patients with ANSD of different etiologies. Thirty-six children with ANSD who underwent cochlear implantation between 2001 and 2021 were included. Comprehensive etiological analyses were conducted, including a history review, next-generation sequencing-based genetic examinations, and imaging studies using high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Serial behavioral and speech audiometry were performed before and after surgery, and the outcomes with CI were evaluated using the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores. By etiology, 18, 1, 1, and 10 patients had OTOF-related, WFS1-related, OPA1-related, and cochlear nerve deficiency (CND)-related ANSD, respectively. Six patients had no definite etiology. The average CI-aided behavioral threshold was 28.3 ± 7.8 dBHL, and those with CND-related ANSD were significantly worse than OTOF-related ANSD. The patients’ median CAP and SIR scores were 6 and 4, respectively. Favorable CI outcomes were observed in patients with certain etiologies of ANSD, particularly those with OTOF (CAP/SIR scores 5–7/2–5), WFS1 (CAP/SIR score 6/5), and OPA1 variants (CAP/SIR score 7/5). Patients with CND had suboptimal CI outcomes (CAP/SIR scores 2–6/1–3). Identifying the etiologies in ANSD patients is crucial before surgery and can aid in predicting prognoses.