Evaluation and results of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using cochlear implants: an integrative literature review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: to synthesize the evidence of available studies in the literature regarding the benefit of the cochlear implant in children with additional diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and to verify the protocols used to validate the abilities of auditory perception and oral language of this population. Methods: an integrative literature review, searching in LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO databases and in the Google Scholar. Studies in Portuguese and English that assessed auditory and/or spoken language skills of children using cochlear implants with autism spectrum disorder were included. Literature Review: 16 studies were included. In 72.18% of cases, autism spectrum disorder was diagnosed when the child was already using a cochlear implant. Studies have shown limited benefit from cochlear implants for the studied population. Parents need to be oriented regarding their expectations about the use of the device. Conclusion: the benefit of using a cochlear implant for children with an additional diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is limited and lower than the results obtained by children who do not have additional diagnoses. There is no standardized protocol for assessing auditory and language skills in this population.