A systematic review of the efficacy of cochlear implantation in adults with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders

Abstract

Abstract Background Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is characterized by normal outer hair cell functioning alongside compromised auditory nerve activity. Our study is designed with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of cochlear implantation in addressing this disorder among adult individuals. Methods The systematic review was carried out using PRISMA guidelines. The review resulted in 288 articles related to the topic. Among these, 11 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria that were included for the study. The studies were evaluated using the Revised Tool for the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. Results We conducted a comprehensive review by examining articles sourced from various databases to investigate the effectiveness of cochlear implantation in individuals diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). The majority of the studies indicate positive outcomes associated with cochlear implantation, resulting in improved audibility and enhanced speech perception abilities. Nonetheless, the prognosis is influenced by a range of factors including the specific location of the auditory lesion, the underlying cause of ANSD, and the nature of postoperative training. The evaluation of article quality revealed a minimal risk of bias, indicating a robust foundation for the conclusions drawn. Conclusion The review substantiates the effectiveness of cochlear implantation in addressing the needs of adult individuals dealing with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). Notably, the review emphasizes that the decision to recommend a cochlear implant should be made in light of the insights derived from genetic testing. However, it is important to highlight that the existing literature lacks a sufficient number of experimental studies featuring appropriately sized samples, underscoring the necessity for future research endeavors to bridge this gap and enhance our understanding of this intervention’s potential.