An interventional study of Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Passive perceptual stimulation in Deafness, sponsored by University Hospital, Toulouse. Recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 10 Months to 7 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Toulouse · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
The principal aim of this study is to evaluate the cortical developement of perceptual skills and executive functions over time, in children with cochlear implants aged 10-24 months and 3-7 years compared with normally hearing subjects (NHS). To do this, the investigator will use functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) during 4 tasks that engage the childs perceptual and cognitive skills over a period of 18 months. The performance scores obtained by each participants as well as the cortical activity will be analysed and decrypted.
When confronted with a severe to profound congenital bilateral hearing loss, cochlear implantation is considered to be the preferential treatment method as it restaures auditory function and enables language acquisition for communication purposes. When cochlear implantation is done before 2 and a half years old, better results are obtained in terms of language, communication and social developement, as well as reading skills. However when a cochlear implantation occurs between 2 and 5 years of age, speech and language skills do develop but communication and reading skills are altered. Therefore, when a cochlear implant is placed before the age of 2 and a half we find ourselves within the maximal cerebral plasticity window for speech, language and communication developement.
This study is divided into two cohorts, the first aged 10-24 months and the second 3-7 years. All children will be seen for 5 sessions, spread out at regular intervals, over a period of 18 months and will participate in two perceptual tasks and two cognitive tasks. The children will also have a speech and language assessment at T-0 and T+12. The cochlear implanted patients will continue to be seen by the ENT service and the sessions will be organised to coincide with their natural follow up. As it is a non-interventional study, no follow-up would be needed. After the study patients will continue to receive the same quality of care.
Inclusion Criteria:
Cohort 1 :
Cohort 2 :
Exclusion Criteria:
The cohort 1 includes patients aged 10-24 months old about to be implanted
Device: Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) · Behavioral: Passive perceptual stimulation · Behavioral: Task A not B · Behavioral: VSWMT task · Behavioral: The sensory room
The cohort 2 includes 3-7 years old cochlear implanted patients (implanted before 24 months of age)
Device: Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) · Behavioral: Passive perceptual stimulation · Behavioral: VSWMT task · Behavioral: Perceptual Go-No-Go · Behavioral: Verbal memory task
The cohort 1 includes patients aged 10-24 months matched in age and sex with normally hearing children
Device: Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) · Behavioral: Passive perceptual stimulation · Behavioral: Task A not B · Behavioral: VSWMT task · Behavioral: The sensory room
The cohort 2 includes 3-7 years old matched in sex and age with cochlear implanted patients
Device: Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) · Behavioral: Passive perceptual stimulation · Behavioral: VSWMT task · Behavioral: Perceptual Go-No-Go · Behavioral: Verbal memory task
Functional neuroimaging examination by fNIRS at each follow-up visit for all children of both cohorts: this non-invasive imaging technique involves the installation of a cap carrying electrodes to collect brain activity on the surface of the scalp , during stimulation. It is very insensitive to movement and therefore represents a method particularly suitable for its use in children. In addition, this technique is compatible with the cochlear implant. It will be used during 6 tasks adapted to each cohort
Passive perceptual stimulation: For this passive task the child is on his parents' lap in front of a screen. He will see images, hear everyday noises and watch small videos. Duration 8-10 minutes.
Task A not B: the child will play with an adult who will hide an object under a cloth several times. The child will have to find the hidden object. Duration 10 minutes maximum
VSWMT task: the child will be on the parents' lap in front of a screen and will watch a monkey hiding bananas in the trees several times. Duration of 10 minutes maximum.
Perceptual Go-No-Go: This perceptual task consists in the discrimination of images (faces) and sounds (words) through 3 conditions (auditory, visual and visuo-auditory) presented independently of each other and lasts 15 to 20 minutes in total. It is presented by means of a computer
Verbal memory task :the child will be presented with 5 lists of 5 words which he will have to restore after a predefined delay of a few seconds. Its duration does not exceed 10 minutes.
The sensory room: the child will sit in the middle of a carpet and play with the adult. He will hear everyday noises and see light effects. Duration 8-10 minutes
Evolution of Oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) measure
Oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) rates measured on the auditory cortex during an auditory stimulus.
Time frame: 60 months
Evolution of Deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) measure
Deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) rates measured on the auditory cortex during an auditory stimulus.
Time frame: 60 months
Activation of the cortical area for children with normal hearing and children benefiting from CI
Describe the evolution of the perceptual capacities of children benefiting from CI, compared to the typical development in children with normal hearing
Time frame: 60 months
Look the executive function when performing tasks describe in Arms and intervention chapter, between children with normal hearing and children benefiting from CI
Describe the evolution of the executive functions of children benefiting from CI, compared to the typical development in normal hearing children
Time frame: 60 months
Correlation of link between the evolution of perceptual hearing skills and the development of post-implantation language skills.
Evolution of language.
Time frame: 60 months
Make activation cards of the cortical reorganization between these two groups
Describe the cortical reorganization of the auditory area post implantation. performances obtained during perceptual anc cognitive tasks
Time frame: 60 months
Make activation cards of the cortical reorganization between these two groups
Describe the cortical reorganization of the visual area post implantation. performances obtained during perceptual anc cognitive tasks
Time frame: 60 months
Comparison
Correlation of link between cortical activation in post-implantation fNIRS and: * perceptual and executive functions over time in deep deaf children after CI; * language skills over time in deep deaf children after CI.
Time frame: 60 months
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University Hospital, Toulouse