Quantitative analyses of high‐angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI)‐derived long association fibers in children with sensorineural hearing loss. Issue 8 (31st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shiohama, Tadashi; Chew, Brianna; Levman, Jacob; Takahashi, Emi
• Is Part Of: International journal of developmental neuroscience. Issue 80:Issue 8(2020:Dec.)
• Page Start: 717
• Page End: 729
• Publication Date: 2020-10-31
• Subjects: apparent diffusion coefficient -- fractional anisotropy -- high‐angular resolution diffusion imaging -- long association fibers -- sensorineural hearing loss; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie du développement -- Périodiques; Developmental neurobiology; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5748

Abstract

Abstract: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common developmental sensory disorder due to a loss of function within the inner ear or its connections to the brain. While successful intervention for auditory deprivation with hearing amplification and cochlear implants during a sensitive early developmental period can improve spoken‐language outcomes, SNHL patients can suffer several cognitive dysfunctions including executive function deficits, visual cognitive impairment, and abnormal visual dominance in speaking perception even after successful intervention. To evaluate whether long association fibers are involved in the pathogenesis of impairment on the extra‐auditory cognitive process in SNHL participants, we quantitatively analyzed high‐angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) tractography‐derived fibers in participants with SNHL. After excluding cases with congenital disorders, perinatal brain damage, or premature birth, we enrolled 17 participants with SNHL aged under 10 years old. Callosal pathways (CP) and six types of cortico‐cortical association fibers (arcuate fasciculus [AF], inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus [IFOF], uncinate fasciculus [UF], cingulum fasciculus [CF], and fornix [Fx]) in both hemispheres were identified and visualized. The ILF and IFOF were partly undetected in three profound SNHL participants. Compared to age‐ and gender‐matched neurotypical controls (NC), decreased volumes, increased lengths, and high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values without difference in fractional anisotropy (FA) values were identified in multiple types of fibers in the SNHL group. The impairment of long association fibers in SNHL may partly be related to the association of cognitive dysfunction with SNHL. Abstract : Diffusion tractography‐derived long association fibers were analyzed in deaf children Deaf children showed long hypovolemic fibers with high apparent diffusion coefficient value Impaired long association fibers may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in deaf children