Comparison of verbal and nonverbal cancellation test performance between 6-11 years old with normal hearing, cochlear implant and hearing aid users

The aim of the study is to investigate whether there is a difference between the groups in the cognitive abilities like continuous/selective attention skills, visual screening, response rate and attack, activation, and inhibition of hasty reactions of children with a cochlear implant, hearing aid or normal hearing between the ages of 6-11. It is sectional analytical research. The study was carried out in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir Ege University Hospital. A total of 45 children aged 6-11 years participated in the study. 15 children have cochlear implants, 15 children have hearing aids and 15 children have normal hearing. As the participation criteria; using cochlear implants or hearing aids in the desired age group or hearing normally. It is expected that children do not have a visual impairment, if they have, they should wear glasses, they should not be diagnosed with any psychological, neurological or genetic syndrome, and that they do not use medications that affect the cognitive process. The study was conducted between April 2019 and October 2019 after obtaining permission from Ege University Research Ethics Committee. The Turkish version of the Verbal and Nonverbal Cancellation Task was applied to children aged between 6-11 years who used normal hearing, hearing aids and cochlear implants. Four sub-tests in this form were applied to the children who participated in the study. In the four subtests of this form, the number of target (letter/shape) marked, number of missed target (letter/shape), number of the wrong target (letter/shape), total error (letter/shape), and scan time scores are compared. According to the marking test, there were no differences between the groups in which normal hearing, cochlear implant and Cancellation Tasks were compared between the completion time, correct target score, missed target score, and wrongly marked target score in 4 subtests. It was observed that the completion of the Verbal and Nonverbal Cancellation Task in a shorter period in proportion to the age of the children regardless of their hearing status. As a result, there was no difference in the Verbal and Nonverbal Cancellation Task which measures the selective attention skills of children who have normal hearing, hearing aid and cochlear implant. It is known that auditory deficiency has negative effects on children's developmental skills. Depending on this situation, it was found that there was no difference in the attention skills of children who used cochlear implants or hearing aids compared to normal-hearing children. It is thought that these results will contribute to the education and training of children with auditory deficits.